Creative New Year

Getting laundry done in this creative new year has proved a bit harder than I would have liked. Ditto for going through the mail.

New Canvas - Rita Hayworth

So here is the latest from Mon Ami. It's the first in a series of "Paper Dolls".

Into My Life A Little Snow Must Fall

Latest "All About Me" layout:

Bath Time

Thanks to a fabulous teleclass with a hip tranquil chick, I decided to take a bath tonight. It was sheer bliss!

I've been working for several months now at making my tub a sanctuary. I have finally achieved it. Richard bought me a beautiful candle chandelier to hang over the tub and I found these sensational mercury glass candlesticks (on sale!) that fit my Paris theme perfectly. I propped them on the side of the tub. The candle light is the only light there is. And I installed some lovely damask curtains that make the entire space completely private. Throw in some lavender bath salts from California, a little bubble bath and one of these other-worldly candles and you have sheer bliss.

Note to self: must schedule more bath time.

Play Date

Today I had the most marvelous play date with a 9-year-old friend; thanks miss C! We began altering a journal together. It was so fun to rummage through all my bits and bobs and listen to her ideas for items and pages. I hope we get to do it again real soon.

Creating Again

I don't know if it's the new year, or that I signed up for a knitting class, or that I spent much of December making pettiskirts for my nieces (a task I would NOT recommend unless you are an expert sewer with serious sewing equipment), but I am back in the swing of the studio; the messy side. It's rather exciting for me. It's been a while.

I am working on an idea that's been floating around the studio for months and I finally decided to grab it and put it to canvas. I'll post a photo when it's finished. For now, here's a little teaser:


The working title is "paper dolls". Thanks to a dear friend (love you, A!) I have some seriously cool vintage paper dolls to work with. I am very happy with the piece so far, but each stage brings its doubts with it. Funny how projects can be so fickle. Some just fly together and others come together despite themselves.

I am also hoping to display my current works at a local coffee shop sometime this year. We'll see, but again, I am hopeful. Refreshing how a new year can infuse that sort of spark one needs to get off her tired ass and start working again. And it doesn't feel like work - yet. Let's see how long that will last.

New Year's Hopes & Dreams

I'm not too big on the whole New Year's Resolutions. I mean, "resolution" sounds to hard-edged, and mechanical. I'm more of a "hopes & dreams" kinda girl. So here they are, my hopes and dreams for 2009:

• to be more spiritual this year; tuned in to the natural world and the supernatural world, and ready for deep conversation, and life-changing moments.
• to be more creative; not afraid to take my art in new directions, or to see my art through in this same direction, open to new artistic and creative opportunities.
• to see and experience new things: places, foods, crafts, plants, the unknown.
• to be more mindful of my relationships, especially my family. I've taken those relationships for granted for far too long. I want to protect and nurture them this year.

Church

I've been thinking about church a lot these days. Trying to put my finger on what it is that feels lacking. For the most part, I love what we do. We are committed to one another in a way that I have never experienced outside of college. I think it's wonderful. 

But lately I have been aching a bit, and until recently, I haven't been able to put my finger on it. I need some hard thinking. I crave the discussion of big ideas, or small ideas. I love to wrestle with the hard questions. I love to read what others are thinking and actually have a discussion with others who are also needing that same thing. And as much as I love our community, it's just not going to happen there. We've tried. There are those of us who enjoy it. But it's not something that will just happen spontaneously. 

What's a girl to do? I don't want to give up what I have, but I need more. (Is that just the epitome of an American belief system?!) I checked out the local seminary workshops and they all seem to be related to music and counseling. And while I am not opposed to either, they are not exactly my baileywick.  So in all my internet surfing, I stumbled across a local church (very mega) which offers 101 things to do. Thing is, I was interested in most of them.

Now, if you know me, you know that I am NOT your typical evangelical. In fact, it's been really hard for me to find a place where I don't feel like I am always the sandpaper rubbing up against everyone. So the fact that these book groups, artist meet-ups, drum circles and celtic services appealed to me was a bit of a shock. I am thinking I will give a couple of them a whirl. At least a book group and the artist meet-up. And the best thing is, I can still maintain my Sunday community. Perhaps there is a way for me after all?