Fallow Season

I have been absent from my own blog {remember my no obligations rule? I won't be apologizing for it}. I have things that need to get done. I still have a house to sell {and we are in the process of doing all sorts of updates to it with a new realtor for fresh ideas. Sell, dammit!} and in terms of creating there is much to do on the horizon... More things need to replace those sold at the gallery exhibit in August {over $2000 worth!}, an upcoming art show called A.R.T.S. Night {A Reason To Shop, benefitting the local Women's Fund}, the launch of my Etsy site {I posted 4 things yesterday. Progress! But more on that another day...} and a creation of a special jewelry set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the College of Natural Resources on our UWSP campus {using the specially made 2" tiles that adorn the entire south face of the massive building in a really amazing mosaic. I am honored that they would think of me.}

Close up of the tiles created by local artist and former UW-SP art professor R. Schneider over 40 years ago. And yes, that is a poison ivy leaf!

The full 3 story mural on the side wall of the College of Natural Resources at UW-SP. Isn't it cool?

I got sick of working in chaos, so I pulled every single thing out of my studio. Now I have to climb over it to get to where I want to work. But I am repurposing furniture and things in my home to help make me more focused and productive. I am not giving up on having a more permanent system of cabinets, but this is an economical first step. Just putting it all away will be a big thing for me. {Except now I have forgotten where I put everything so it takes me twice as long to do anything! More pictures of the studio re-do another time....}

I haven't really created anything in what feels like quite a long time. And I miss my creative mojo.

Back in early 2009 I had been reading The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin. And about the time I hit secret #4 Surrendering to Creative Cycles, I somehow lost my steam or got creative again. I never did finish that book or continue participating in the book club that I was reading along with, so maybe I need to see if I can find that book again. I think my creative cycle might be warranting a closer look. Here is a little exerpt of what I wrote back then that is just as timely now...

"Surrendering to the cycles instead of fighting with them is a skill of the creative warrior." ~ from The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women

Surrender......interesting choice of words.

All I can think of is that famous scene in the Wizard of Oz - you know the one.

"Surrender Dorothy"

written in script from the tail end of the wicked witch's broomstick against a china blue sky.

Is it surrendering if I am jumping in with both feet? if I can hardly contain my enthusiasm? willing it to happen? like.......now?

But perhaps that is the lesson.

"There is no way to push the river; equally you cannot hasten the harvest."

{Laying Fallow, original oil painting by Erin Spencer of Painting in Dutch}

I like this imagery.

Am I, too, going with the flow?

Or am I trying to swim against the natural current of my life?

Am I planting the seeds and nurturing them to grow?

Or am trampling any hope of growth by my impatience?

This image also reminds me that creative cycles have swirling tide pools where the water flows slower, or not at all. Or times when my creativity lies fallow awaiting the rays of inspiration.

So when is my fallow season?

And more importantly, what am I doing during that fallow time to ensure that my growing time will produce abundance?

For me one fallow season would be right after Christmas. In the weeks leading up to the giftiest time of the year, I can be found most nights in my studio from 8p-2a creating on demand. Amazingly, I am able to do just that. {And for my Gallery Q exhibit, nine months in the making, I have had to pull all sorts of fancy, limited edition, one-of-a-kind rabbits out of my creative hat.}

But, as you can guess, that burns me out completely. I need a break. So I go fallow in January. {And I realized that I am fallow right about now.} In fact, there are weeks when I don't step foot in my studio after that mad dash to Christmas. It doesn't help that every single bead and tool I own is strewn about hindering my ability to think clearly when I go in there. {Hence, my need to completely rearrange my nest again. I will be done by this weekend, gosh darn it!}

But one day I decide that my beads need me. And I need them. So I take a deep breath and charge right in. It may take a few days to rein in the chaos, to control it at a manageable level, but I do. And the creative juices start flowing again.

During this downtime I am recharging my creative energy by reading books I have purchased but not found the time to read, perused magazines and online blogs that I have been missing out on, commenting on posts and connecting with other artists. My hands may be idle, but my imagination is not. And this helps me vastly when I am ready to dig into those beads and make something new.

For my fallow cycle this summer I...

....wrote for the Stringing Fall Blog Carnival and found that I have been accepted as a regular contributor to Art Bead Scene.

....made a few custom pieces and repairs for clients that had been waiting for the time to do it.

....launched my brand new website www.tesoritrovati.com. Check it out!

....pulled every single, gosh darn thing out of my studio...and now I am trying to put it all away and find a place for everything {still a work in progress...grrrr}.

....quit the business networking group that I had spent the last 3 years attending each week {it was really hard to say goodbye...I completely lost it during the announcement...these people are like family to me!} because I know that my reach is much farther than just my local community.

....planned to use that same amount of time on Wednesday mornings as my very first daylight hours to create {and I did just that on September 1st! Squee!}

....thought more about my ideas on what sort of resource book I would like to see....and started laying the groundwork for writing it myself

....finally, FINALLY listed my very first pieces in my Etsy shop...don't laugh okay? I have no idea what I am doing {and learned that it isn't as easy to do as I had thought it would be...how do you all do it? I have a LOT to learn! Including taking better pictures...how shipping works...}

....decided what I wanted to create for the upcoming A.R.T.S. Night show and the Gallery Q and Riverfront Art Gallery holiday exhibits

....found a vendor for something that I need to complete my pieces for these shows

....ordered a special treat from a friend just for me

....felt a bit more relaxed and refreshed. And maybe focused. Just a bit...

....found that I miss my creative time and am ready to get back in the studio and start doing some new-to-me things.

Wouldn't it be a better world if we were each encouraged to go "on sabbatical"? I have always liked that concept. I know that I would be happier if I were encouraged to find that which moves me to study and immerse myself in for the sake of my own betterment. Imagine how we would come back to our regular lives with that new knowledge! To explore that which piques our interest or brings our soul joy...to discover who we really are or are meant to be. That would be living!

My fallow moments are most fertile. They are places to dream big and project where I want my life to lead me. And maybe if I dream big enough and hope long enough {and add some fertilizer to the seeds of my ideas} these things will grow to an abundance such as I have never known before.

"Letting go and seeing what we're really drawn to fertilizes the creative process, and finally the next step appears."

What is the next step for you? Do tell!

Enjoy the day!

Fallow Season

I have been absent from my own blog {remember my no obligations rule? I won't be apologizing for it}. I have things that need to get done. I still have a house to sell {and we are in the process of doing all sorts of updates to it with a new realtor for fresh ideas. Sell, dammit!} and in terms of creating there is much to do on the horizon... More things need to replace those sold at the gallery exhibit in August {over $2000 worth!}, an upcoming art show called A.R.T.S. Night {A Reason To Shop, benefitting the local Women's Fund}, the launch of my Etsy site {I posted 4 things yesterday. Progress! But more on that another day...} and a creation of a special jewelry set to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the College of Natural Resources on our UWSP campus {using the specially made 2" tiles that adorn the entire south face of the massive building in a really amazing mosaic. I am honored that they would think of me.}

Close up of the tiles created by local artist and former UW-SP art professor R. Schneider over 40 years ago. And yes, that is a poison ivy leaf!

The full 3 story mural on the side wall of the College of Natural Resources at UW-SP. Isn't it cool?

I got sick of working in chaos, so I pulled every single thing out of my studio. Now I have to climb over it to get to where I want to work. But I am repurposing furniture and things in my home to help make me more focused and productive. I am not giving up on having a more permanent system of cabinets, but this is an economical first step. Just putting it all away will be a big thing for me. {Except now I have forgotten where I put everything so it takes me twice as long to do anything! More pictures of the studio re-do another time....}

I haven't really created anything in what feels like quite a long time. And I miss my creative mojo.

Back in early 2009 I had been reading The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin. And about the time I hit secret #4 Surrendering to Creative Cycles, I somehow lost my steam or got creative again. I never did finish that book or continue participating in the book club that I was reading along with, so maybe I need to see if I can find that book again. I think my creative cycle might be warranting a closer look. Here is a little exerpt of what I wrote back then that is just as timely now...

"Surrendering to the cycles instead of fighting with them is a skill of the creative warrior." ~ from The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women

Surrender......interesting choice of words.

All I can think of is that famous scene in the Wizard of Oz - you know the one.

"Surrender Dorothy"

written in script from the tail end of the wicked witch's broomstick against a china blue sky.

Is it surrendering if I am jumping in with both feet? if I can hardly contain my enthusiasm? willing it to happen? like.......now?

But perhaps that is the lesson.

"There is no way to push the river; equally you cannot hasten the harvest."

{Laying Fallow, original oil painting by Erin Spencer of Painting in Dutch}

I like this imagery.

Am I, too, going with the flow?

Or am I trying to swim against the natural current of my life?

Am I planting the seeds and nurturing them to grow?

Or am trampling any hope of growth by my impatience?

This image also reminds me that creative cycles have swirling tide pools where the water flows slower, or not at all. Or times when my creativity lies fallow awaiting the rays of inspiration.

So when is my fallow season?

And more importantly, what am I doing during that fallow time to ensure that my growing time will produce abundance?

For me one fallow season would be right after Christmas. In the weeks leading up to the giftiest time of the year, I can be found most nights in my studio from 8p-2a creating on demand. Amazingly, I am able to do just that. {And for my Gallery Q exhibit, nine months in the making, I have had to pull all sorts of fancy, limited edition, one-of-a-kind rabbits out of my creative hat.}

But, as you can guess, that burns me out completely. I need a break. So I go fallow in January. {And I realized that I am fallow right about now.} In fact, there are weeks when I don't step foot in my studio after that mad dash to Christmas. It doesn't help that every single bead and tool I own is strewn about hindering my ability to think clearly when I go in there. {Hence, my need to completely rearrange my nest again. I will be done by this weekend, gosh darn it!}

But one day I decide that my beads need me. And I need them. So I take a deep breath and charge right in. It may take a few days to rein in the chaos, to control it at a manageable level, but I do. And the creative juices start flowing again.

During this downtime I am recharging my creative energy by reading books I have purchased but not found the time to read, perused magazines and online blogs that I have been missing out on, commenting on posts and connecting with other artists. My hands may be idle, but my imagination is not. And this helps me vastly when I am ready to dig into those beads and make something new.

For my fallow cycle this summer I...

....wrote for the Stringing Fall Blog Carnival and found that I have been accepted as a regular contributor to Art Bead Scene.

....made a few custom pieces and repairs for clients that had been waiting for the time to do it.

....launched my brand new website www.tesoritrovati.com. Check it out!

....pulled every single, gosh darn thing out of my studio...and now I am trying to put it all away and find a place for everything {still a work in progress...grrrr}.

....quit the business networking group that I had spent the last 3 years attending each week {it was really hard to say goodbye...I completely lost it during the announcement...these people are like family to me!} because I know that my reach is much farther than just my local community.

....planned to use that same amount of time on Wednesday mornings as my very first daylight hours to create {and I did just that on September 1st! Squee!}

....thought more about my ideas on what sort of resource book I would like to see....and started laying the groundwork for writing it myself

....finally, FINALLY listed my very first pieces in my Etsy shop...don't laugh okay? I have no idea what I am doing {and learned that it isn't as easy to do as I had thought it would be...how do you all do it? I have a LOT to learn! Including taking better pictures...how shipping works...}

....decided what I wanted to create for the upcoming A.R.T.S. Night show and the Gallery Q and Riverfront Art Gallery holiday exhibits

....found a vendor for something that I need to complete my pieces for these shows

....ordered a special treat from a friend just for me

....felt a bit more relaxed and refreshed. And maybe focused. Just a bit...

....found that I miss my creative time and am ready to get back in the studio and start doing some new-to-me things.

Wouldn't it be a better world if we were each encouraged to go "on sabbatical"? I have always liked that concept. I know that I would be happier if I were encouraged to find that which moves me to study and immerse myself in for the sake of my own betterment. Imagine how we would come back to our regular lives with that new knowledge! To explore that which piques our interest or brings our soul joy...to discover who we really are or are meant to be. That would be living!

My fallow moments are most fertile. They are places to dream big and project where I want my life to lead me. And maybe if I dream big enough and hope long enough {and add some fertilizer to the seeds of my ideas} these things will grow to an abundance such as I have never known before.

"Letting go and seeing what we're really drawn to fertilizes the creative process, and finally the next step appears."

What is the next step for you? Do tell!

Enjoy the day!

Secret #4: Surrendering to Creative Cycles

"Surrendering to the cycles instead of fighting with them is a skill of the creative warrior."

Surrender......interesting choice of words.

All I can think of is that famous scene in the Wizard of Oz - you know the one.

"Surrender Dorothy"
written in script from the tail end of the wicked witch's broomstick against a china blue sky.

Is it surrendering if I am jumping in with both feet? if I can hardly contain my enthusiasm? willing it to happen? like...now?

But perhaps that is the lesson.

"There is no way to push the river; equally you cannot hasten the harvest."

I like this imagery.

Am I, too, going with the flow? Or am I trying to swim against the natural current of my life?
Am I planting the seeds and nurturing them to grow? Or am trampling any hope of growth by my impatience?

This image also reminds me that creative cycles have swirling tide pools where the water flows slower, or not at all. Or times when my creativity lies fallow awaiting the rays of inspiration.

So when is my fallow season?

And more importantly, what am I doing during that fallow time to ensure that my growing time will produce abundance?

For me a fallow season would be right after Christmas. In the weeks leading up to the giftiest time of the year, I can be found most nights in my studio from 8p-2a creating on demand. Amazingly, I am able to do just that. But, as you can guess, that burns me out completely. I need a break. I go fallowin January. In fact, there are weeks when I don't step foot in my studio after that mad dash to Christmas. It doesn't help that every single bead and tool I own is strewn about hindering my ability to think clearly when I go in there.

But one day I decide that my beads need me. And I need them. So I take a deep breath and charge right in. It may take a few days to rein in the chaos, to control it at a manageable level, but I do. And the creative juices start flowing again.

During this downtime I am recharging my creative energy by reading books I have purchased but not found the time to read, perused magazines and online blogs that I have been missing out on, commenting on posts and connecting with other artists. My hands may be idle, but my imagination is not. And this helps me vastly when I am ready to dig into those beads and make something new.

For my fallow cycle this year I...
....donated items to charity and made a calendar to show me the progress toward my goal of donating one ensemble per month to a charity that I believe in.
....worked on my website development. It's coming! I promise!
...."fed the pipeline" for magazine and book proposal submissions and made a chart to show my progress toward the goal of being published in an online gallery, magazine or book once per month in 2009. So far I am on track and committed through July.
....made arrangements with a new outlet for my work - at a local photographer's studio who does a lot of wedding, engagement and senior portrait work in the spring and summer.
....swapped out the high end pieces on display at a Brody Design's Custom Goldsmith gallery where I am delighted to exhibit and sell my work.
....prepared for a gallery exhibit for the local ArtsWalk event in April at Art Village.

Wouldn't it be a better world if we were each encouraged to go "on sabbatical"? I have always liked that concept. I know that I would be happier if I were encouraged to find that which moves me to study and immerse myself in for the sake of my own betterment. Imagine how we would come back to our regular lives with that new knowledge! To explore that which piques our interest or brings our soul joy...to discover who we really are or are meant to be. That would be living!

One of my goals this year is to attend an artist retreat. Last fall I stumbled upon one that is right here in the state of Wisconsin where I live...and is practically in the backyard of my sister who lives in the same city of Cedarburg (read: cheap lodging!) as this artist convergence. The RAEvN's Nest Art Retreat sounds like that perfect meeting of the minds. Artists from various media converging on this quaint and artsy town for a weekend of food, fun, conversation and getting messy with all sorts of art-ful implements. I really wanted to attend last fall when I found it, but I discovered this event the day before it was to begin and my life wasn't allowing me to be that flexible. But this year, I hope it will be different. I am also looking into flying to the Art Unraveled retreat in Phoenix over the summer (coinciding with my birthday...pinch me!). And then there is a trip to France that my friend is leading. How cool would it be to walk the French countryside with a paintbrush in hand?

My fallow moments are most fertile. They are places to dream big and project where I want my life to lead me. And maybe if I dream big enough and hope long enough (and put some plans behind the seeds of my ideas) these things will grow to an abundance such as I have never known before.

"Letting go and seeing what we're really drawn to fertilizes the creative process, and finally the next step appears."

What is the next step for you?

Check It Out:: http://www.kimraenugent.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the day!

Secret #4: Surrendering to Creative Cycles

"Surrendering to the cycles instead of fighting with them is a skill of the creative warrior."

Surrender......interesting choice of words.

All I can think of is that famous scene in the Wizard of Oz - you know the one.

"Surrender Dorothy"
written in script from the tail end of the wicked witch's broomstick against a china blue sky.

Is it surrendering if I am jumping in with both feet? if I can hardly contain my enthusiasm? willing it to happen? like...now?

But perhaps that is the lesson.

"There is no way to push the river; equally you cannot hasten the harvest."

I like this imagery.

Am I, too, going with the flow? Or am I trying to swim against the natural current of my life?
Am I planting the seeds and nurturing them to grow? Or am trampling any hope of growth by my impatience?

This image also reminds me that creative cycles have swirling tide pools where the water flows slower, or not at all. Or times when my creativity lies fallow awaiting the rays of inspiration.

So when is my fallow season?

And more importantly, what am I doing during that fallow time to ensure that my growing time will produce abundance?

For me a fallow season would be right after Christmas. In the weeks leading up to the giftiest time of the year, I can be found most nights in my studio from 8p-2a creating on demand. Amazingly, I am able to do just that. But, as you can guess, that burns me out completely. I need a break. I go fallowin January. In fact, there are weeks when I don't step foot in my studio after that mad dash to Christmas. It doesn't help that every single bead and tool I own is strewn about hindering my ability to think clearly when I go in there.

But one day I decide that my beads need me. And I need them. So I take a deep breath and charge right in. It may take a few days to rein in the chaos, to control it at a manageable level, but I do. And the creative juices start flowing again.

During this downtime I am recharging my creative energy by reading books I have purchased but not found the time to read, perused magazines and online blogs that I have been missing out on, commenting on posts and connecting with other artists. My hands may be idle, but my imagination is not. And this helps me vastly when I am ready to dig into those beads and make something new.

For my fallow cycle this year I...
....donated items to charity and made a calendar to show me the progress toward my goal of donating one ensemble per month to a charity that I believe in.
....worked on my website development. It's coming! I promise!
...."fed the pipeline" for magazine and book proposal submissions and made a chart to show my progress toward the goal of being published in an online gallery, magazine or book once per month in 2009. So far I am on track and committed through July.
....made arrangements with a new outlet for my work - at a local photographer's studio who does a lot of wedding, engagement and senior portrait work in the spring and summer.
....swapped out the high end pieces on display at a Brody Design's Custom Goldsmith gallery where I am delighted to exhibit and sell my work.
....prepared for a gallery exhibit for the local ArtsWalk event in April at Art Village.

Wouldn't it be a better world if we were each encouraged to go "on sabbatical"? I have always liked that concept. I know that I would be happier if I were encouraged to find that which moves me to study and immerse myself in for the sake of my own betterment. Imagine how we would come back to our regular lives with that new knowledge! To explore that which piques our interest or brings our soul joy...to discover who we really are or are meant to be. That would be living!

One of my goals this year is to attend an artist retreat. Last fall I stumbled upon one that is right here in the state of Wisconsin where I live...and is practically in the backyard of my sister who lives in the same city of Cedarburg (read: cheap lodging!) as this artist convergence. The RAEvN's Nest Art Retreat sounds like that perfect meeting of the minds. Artists from various media converging on this quaint and artsy town for a weekend of food, fun, conversation and getting messy with all sorts of art-ful implements. I really wanted to attend last fall when I found it, but I discovered this event the day before it was to begin and my life wasn't allowing me to be that flexible. But this year, I hope it will be different. I am also looking into flying to the Art Unraveled retreat in Phoenix over the summer (coinciding with my birthday...pinch me!). And then there is a trip to France that my friend is leading. How cool would it be to walk the French countryside with a paintbrush in hand?

My fallow moments are most fertile. They are places to dream big and project where I want my life to lead me. And maybe if I dream big enough and hope long enough (and put some plans behind the seeds of my ideas) these things will grow to an abundance such as I have never known before.

"Letting go and seeing what we're really drawn to fertilizes the creative process, and finally the next step appears."

What is the next step for you?

Check It Out:: http://www.kimraenugent.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the day!

Secret #3: Following Your Fascinations

"Ask yourself, 'How long am I going to work to make my dreams come true?'
I suggest you answer, 'As long as it takes.' "
~Jim Rohn

I find it interesting that the first header in this chapter is "Taking Courageous Risks."

So, I got to thinking...Are there un-courageous risks?

A risk by definition is the possibility of loss or injury; someone or something that suggests a hazard. Tell me...how can you not be courageous when faced with peril?

Today I need courage.
To face my fears.
To get out of my comfort zone.
To determine how and when to take the risk. If at all.

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." ~ Erica Jong

So what is it that I risk if I don't follow my fascinations?

I risk being true to myself.
I risk my health and my sanity.
I risk my happiness. And my family's happiness.
I risk my integrity as an artist if I only say and never do.
I risk depression and anxiety and a sense of helplessness in my present situation.

You know how when you go through a break-up, every single song on the radio seems to be torn straight from your heart? It is more likely that you are overly sensitive and highly receptive to the voices around you, but it still feels as if the universe has placed a spotlight on your very soul and you take every phrase to have personal meaning. Well, that is how this book is speaking to me.

I was very taken by the story of Pam Moore in this chapter. The path to her true calling is one that I can relate to as well. I found the phrase "intuitive U-turn" to be very significant. Which made me think about what intuitive U-turns I have had in my life, and where I might be experiencing one right now.

"It takes courage to admit we're on the wrong train and risk disapproval or possibly looking foolish."

Have I been in a state of denial about my creativity? Or would it hve taken me this long to recognize my talents and bear creative fruit?

I have a new friend, an artist named Vanessa Valencia, who has told me that she has been making and selling her art since she was about 14 years old. She comes from a very supportive family who allowed her the room to be self-expressive. She has led a life that seems somewhat enchanted to me in that she has been making art and doing what she loves for more than half of her lifetime. So why did it take me this long to find my creative niche and even longer to follow that fascination?

And now that I have opened my heart to the universe, how can I make sure that I don't waste another minute following where those fascinations lead?

Ms. Moore seemed to know that she was on the right path when the signs were all around her. I imagine if I were to find a tiny ad in the local newspaper that said, "Looking for creative people" I wouldn't hesitate a second to apply, no matter for what position. To be able to be seen as a creative person and have that label be a positive, a title that would also entail making money...well, sign me up!

I just love the phrase that "her face glows with joy" when she speaks about the thing that she loves to do. That is the way I feel about creating and being connected to creatives.

"What inspires me is an incredibly profound belief that I'm not only creative but that I can help others discover their own creativity." ~ Pam Moore

Yes!

That is the biggest fascination for me. Yes, I play with beads and I make beautiful things, but my real passion, my fascination is to inspire creativity in others.
That is precisely why I started this blog.
That is the path that never existed to me before but that is where I am headed.

I had been asked in the past to start a blog. I resisted for a long time. I feared that a potential risk would be that not one person would ever read this blog but me. I see Treasures Found as a very interesting way to reach out to the world (if anyone is actually reading), but I didn't see myself as a part of it. Frankly, there is a lot of self-serving attitudes out there. Or plugs for product. But not much worth reading, nor commenting on. So I actively started seeking the good that is all around the blog-world, determined to find one blog or website a day that would inspire me. And the most amazing thing happened...I liked what I was finding. I realized that there are others out there who were seeking the same type of creative souls that they were and that all they really wanted was to be inspired. To believe in the magic within. To find a sense of whimsy and playfulness and gratefulness and love. We all seem to be seeking a community to share our art, to grow in our creative cycles and just to enjoy each others' company.

The revelation to me is that I have connected, personally, to people who are in other time zones and even halfway around the world. Only one of my public followers is a person I know and love and see every week. That is powerful. And that fascinates me. If you have commented [thank you! I love comments!] I will attempt to get in touch with you [preferably through a direct email] to make that personal connection. Because when we recognize the impact that our words and our experiences have on people no matter where in the world they reside, it helps remind us that we are all in this together and we can buoy each other up by collectively raising the sea level of creativity and encouraging others to join us on the journey.

I have always believed that God made us all to be creative beings. I don't agree with those who say that only certain people can be creative, but not them. We are all called to be creative. But like Ms. Moore states we have "stopped using that muscle" and need to reawaken and flex it again.

Yes, even I forget how to flex my creativity sometimes.

My family and I have been enjoying Art Village USA for a number of years. A few years ago I even took my first oil painting class there, replicating a "Master's" artwork. I chose a Van Gogh. (Of course. What could be simpler?) My 10 year old son was fascinated by watching the regular pottery ladies on the wheels and would ask me if he could take a class. Now, you have to know that my son is a sports fanatic. If he isn't playing with a ball, he is thinking about it, or watching it on TV. He is a regular sports ticker [are you listening ESPN? He looks good in a suit, can talk endlessly about all sports, with authority, and would be a fine addition to your broadcast team in say...15 years.]

I wanted to allow Sport-o to follow that fascination, so for his Christmas present he received a 25 pound block of clay. I am sure that he was expecting a Wii. I knew that it would be either a win or lose, but no draw. Luckily, he peered into the heavy box at the handmade certificate inviting the two of us to take the 6 week course and said, "Sweet!"

{Score one for Mom.}

A giant block of clay is one thing. Actually sticking it out in the class is another.

Things come naturally to him. He is good in all sports. He is a fine student. He doesn't have to try very hard to make things work out well. So this whole pottery wheel class could have conceivably come to a screeching halt with the first pot he attempted, and then it would be a very expensive lesson [for both of us] to learn.

I am proud to say that we have been through half the class together and not only have we had moderate success by making a combined total of 10 pots. Actually, our instructor Kristin has been praising the natural aptitude that he has shown. But we are learning so much more than how to throw a pot on a wheel.

We are learning patience. And humility.
We are learning to accept our mistakes. And to learn from them.
We are learning to slow down and appreciate the process.
We are learning that we can be each others' greatest cheerleaders.
We are learning a great deal of respect for one another.
[I am learning that it is okay to have your hands covered in mud. Ugh!]

We are learning that no matter what the outcome, no matter how many pots we actually end up with, there is a joy in the ability to flex our creative muscles and try new things.

Encouraging my son to follow his fascination has opened the doors of opportunity for him. His life can be more than just sports. He may not become a world famous potter.

But then again, he might.

------------------------------------------------------------
My son was the winner of the school spelling bee in 2007 as a 3rd grader. He ended up placing 8th in the regional bee against 5th-8th graders. So the movie Akeelah and the Bee is one of our favorites and truly shows how following your fascinations can lead to great success. This quote, taken from Marianne Williamson, is a rallying cry for living your dream:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

Check It Out::http://www.oneprettything.com/

Enjoy the day!

Secret #3: Following Your Fascinations

"Ask yourself, 'How long am I going to work to make my dreams come true?'
I suggest you answer, 'As long as it takes.' "
~Jim Rohn

I find it interesting that the first header in this chapter is "Taking Courageous Risks."

So, I got to thinking...Are there un-courageous risks?

A risk by definition is the possibility of loss or injury; someone or something that suggests a hazard. Tell me...how can you not be courageous when faced with peril?

Today I need courage.
To face my fears.
To get out of my comfort zone.
To determine how and when to take the risk. If at all.

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." ~ Erica Jong

So what is it that I risk if I don't follow my fascinations?

I risk being true to myself.
I risk my health and my sanity.
I risk my happiness. And my family's happiness.
I risk my integrity as an artist if I only say and never do.
I risk depression and anxiety and a sense of helplessness in my present situation.

You know how when you go through a break-up, every single song on the radio seems to be torn straight from your heart? It is more likely that you are overly sensitive and highly receptive to the voices around you, but it still feels as if the universe has placed a spotlight on your very soul and you take every phrase to have personal meaning. Well, that is how this book is speaking to me.

I was very taken by the story of Pam Moore in this chapter. The path to her true calling is one that I can relate to as well. I found the phrase "intuitive U-turn" to be very significant. Which made me think about what intuitive U-turns I have had in my life, and where I might be experiencing one right now.

"It takes courage to admit we're on the wrong train and risk disapproval or possibly looking foolish."

Have I been in a state of denial about my creativity? Or would it hve taken me this long to recognize my talents and bear creative fruit?

I have a new friend, an artist named Vanessa Valencia, who has told me that she has been making and selling her art since she was about 14 years old. She comes from a very supportive family who allowed her the room to be self-expressive. She has led a life that seems somewhat enchanted to me in that she has been making art and doing what she loves for more than half of her lifetime. So why did it take me this long to find my creative niche and even longer to follow that fascination?

And now that I have opened my heart to the universe, how can I make sure that I don't waste another minute following where those fascinations lead?

Ms. Moore seemed to know that she was on the right path when the signs were all around her. I imagine if I were to find a tiny ad in the local newspaper that said, "Looking for creative people" I wouldn't hesitate a second to apply, no matter for what position. To be able to be seen as a creative person and have that label be a positive, a title that would also entail making money...well, sign me up!

I just love the phrase that "her face glows with joy" when she speaks about the thing that she loves to do. That is the way I feel about creating and being connected to creatives.

"What inspires me is an incredibly profound belief that I'm not only creative but that I can help others discover their own creativity." ~ Pam Moore

Yes!

That is the biggest fascination for me. Yes, I play with beads and I make beautiful things, but my real passion, my fascination is to inspire creativity in others.
That is precisely why I started this blog.
That is the path that never existed to me before but that is where I am headed.

I had been asked in the past to start a blog. I resisted for a long time. I feared that a potential risk would be that not one person would ever read this blog but me. I see Treasures Found as a very interesting way to reach out to the world (if anyone is actually reading), but I didn't see myself as a part of it. Frankly, there is a lot of self-serving attitudes out there. Or plugs for product. But not much worth reading, nor commenting on. So I actively started seeking the good that is all around the blog-world, determined to find one blog or website a day that would inspire me. And the most amazing thing happened...I liked what I was finding. I realized that there are others out there who were seeking the same type of creative souls that they were and that all they really wanted was to be inspired. To believe in the magic within. To find a sense of whimsy and playfulness and gratefulness and love. We all seem to be seeking a community to share our art, to grow in our creative cycles and just to enjoy each others' company.

The revelation to me is that I have connected, personally, to people who are in other time zones and even halfway around the world. Only one of my public followers is a person I know and love and see every week. That is powerful. And that fascinates me. If you have commented [thank you! I love comments!] I will attempt to get in touch with you [preferably through a direct email] to make that personal connection. Because when we recognize the impact that our words and our experiences have on people no matter where in the world they reside, it helps remind us that we are all in this together and we can buoy each other up by collectively raising the sea level of creativity and encouraging others to join us on the journey.

I have always believed that God made us all to be creative beings. I don't agree with those who say that only certain people can be creative, but not them. We are all called to be creative. But like Ms. Moore states we have "stopped using that muscle" and need to reawaken and flex it again.

Yes, even I forget how to flex my creativity sometimes.

My family and I have been enjoying Art Village USA for a number of years. A few years ago I even took my first oil painting class there, replicating a "Master's" artwork. I chose a Van Gogh. (Of course. What could be simpler?) My 10 year old son was fascinated by watching the regular pottery ladies on the wheels and would ask me if he could take a class. Now, you have to know that my son is a sports fanatic. If he isn't playing with a ball, he is thinking about it, or watching it on TV. He is a regular sports ticker [are you listening ESPN? He looks good in a suit, can talk endlessly about all sports, with authority, and would be a fine addition to your broadcast team in say...15 years.]

I wanted to allow Sport-o to follow that fascination, so for his Christmas present he received a 25 pound block of clay. I am sure that he was expecting a Wii. I knew that it would be either a win or lose, but no draw. Luckily, he peered into the heavy box at the handmade certificate inviting the two of us to take the 6 week course and said, "Sweet!"

{Score one for Mom.}

A giant block of clay is one thing. Actually sticking it out in the class is another.

Things come naturally to him. He is good in all sports. He is a fine student. He doesn't have to try very hard to make things work out well. So this whole pottery wheel class could have conceivably come to a screeching halt with the first pot he attempted, and then it would be a very expensive lesson [for both of us] to learn.

I am proud to say that we have been through half the class together and not only have we had moderate success by making a combined total of 10 pots. Actually, our instructor Kristin has been praising the natural aptitude that he has shown. But we are learning so much more than how to throw a pot on a wheel.

We are learning patience. And humility.
We are learning to accept our mistakes. And to learn from them.
We are learning to slow down and appreciate the process.
We are learning that we can be each others' greatest cheerleaders.
We are learning a great deal of respect for one another.
[I am learning that it is okay to have your hands covered in mud. Ugh!]

We are learning that no matter what the outcome, no matter how many pots we actually end up with, there is a joy in the ability to flex our creative muscles and try new things.

Encouraging my son to follow his fascination has opened the doors of opportunity for him. His life can be more than just sports. He may not become a world famous potter.

But then again, he might.

------------------------------------------------------------
My son was the winner of the school spelling bee in 2007 as a 3rd grader. He ended up placing 8th in the regional bee against 5th-8th graders. So the movie Akeelah and the Bee is one of our favorites and truly shows how following your fascinations can lead to great success. This quote, taken from Marianne Williamson, is a rallying cry for living your dream:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."

Check It Out::http://www.oneprettything.com/

Enjoy the day!

Secret #2: Honoring Your Inspirations

"Inspirations are precious seedlings awaiting nurturance."

So begins Secret #2...

We each have a creative capacity of limitless proporations. We each have the tools given by God to be creative. The challenge is that we have forgotten how to access our creativity and unlock it's potential.

Everyone is creative. I won't have you tell me otherwise.

I am struck by the fact that the women in this book all have a profound sense of self that is cultivated by being receptive to the world around them. In short, they see that inspiration is everywhere. And since that is the subtitle to my own blog, I feel right at home with all of them, and all the other seekers I have encountered along the way.

Creativity is an energy, a force. It permeates our very beings. We are at our best when we allow that energy to bring us into harmony with our true selves. And when we are creative it is no wonder that it energizes us, drives us to create more. But finding that balance is a struggle for me and other women-who-do-too-much like me. (You know who you are.)

"Time is absolutely vital to the creative process. We have to figure out how to take it and give it to ourselves. Only when we realize the kind of attention we need to be creative, do we realize the value of our time." ~ Alice Aspen March

The Challenge in this chapter is about carving out time for yourself to tap those creative energies. Great idea in theory. Often unattainable in practice. I find that I don't have nearly enough time to just sit and be with me. With a full time job (in complete overdrive due to pressing deadlines right now), two kids (with a variety of activities that find me chauffeuring almost every day of the week), a husband (who passes like a ship in the night only to "collide" on the occasional Friday night), the pull of meaningful volunteer opportunities and my 9p to midnight passion to fuel...how do I carve that time for me out?


This is a particular struggle for me.

Do I work best at my art when it is late at night because I am a night owl and that is when my creativity is sparked? Or is it becasue that is the only time that I can explore when the world is hushed and my family are snug in bed? All this late night creating is endlessly tiring and doesn't do a thing for the bags under my eyes. Still, at this time that is what I can commit. Perhaps that might change in time.

"The doors of opportunity are opening around us every day. We have to have the courage to walk through them and the vision to see where they may lead us in order to take that step toward greatness." ~ Erin Prais-Hintz

That is a quote of my own that I am fond of reciting to others. It is something that I truly believe. I know that I wouldn't be where I am today, standing on the threshold of something great, if I didn't live that sentiment. Yet there is something holding me back. I am holding me back.



One of the first steps for me is to find a way to pull out of my day job. And while I have had a lot of encouragement to that end, and I am usually known to jump right into a decision without thinking the consequences through completely, this challenge is different. I have been considering this for several years. With the economy the way it is, is it really the right time to walk away from a well paying, stable position to face such uncertainty and risk? So I reason that I have to work a little harder and a little longer to make my dreams come true.

What do I need to let go of? What is keeping me on the threshold looking in?

I am afraid of what this would mean to my family. Lost income is but one of the worries. But I also consider what it would mean to me to have DAYLIGHT hours to create, to pursue other opportunities that are eluding me. There are things I cannot, will not do in the wee hours simply because they could be dangerous. Things like soldering, or working with hot tools. Not the thing one should be working with at midnight. There are publications I would like to pursue, but I don't have the time to fully investigate. There are classes and workshops and shows that I would attend and perhaps even exhibit at if I but had the time to prepare. It is sometimes hard to honor my inspirations when I am so weary. But with hope alive in my heart I know it will be the right time one day, and I know that I will be ready to step across that threshold and walk confidently into my destiny.

I talk confidently with my keyboard, but translating my words into actions terrifies me. Yet, I don't really think that anyone who knows me would be all that surprised if I did follow where this path is most certainly leading me. I feel that I may have wasted too much time already in my 40 years. I don't have time to waste another 40. My time is now.

"Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties."
~ Gail Sheehy

Honoring my inspirations, my creative visions, my artful passions all brings my "seedlings" to life. It is not work. It is not a chore. It is exploration and discovery and, yes, play. I make it up as I go. And there are no rules. Now if I can just believe what my true self is saying to me....

Check It Out::http://christinekane.com/blog/

Enjoy the day!