Renewing

My husband and I had fun hanging out at a family wedding this weekend.  In between work, writing, photography and creative flows, its important to include windows of time with the ones you love.  Renewing.

Peace & Joy,
Suzanne

Looking Up

"Look" (verb) Use or direct your eyes in order to see, search, or examine.  An act of looking. Appearance. A person's attractiveness. (Oxford Dictionary). 

Have you noticed when we are looking or watching, we see more?  It may seem like a silly thought, but really... when we are intentional about looking, such as the beauty in our day, common things people do (bring us a beverage, give a hug), our life's perspective can change.  If not for the day, even for a moment. 

Successfully today, I learned to take off the dang spam sensors on my blog so people can comment easily. Simple thing I looked to conquer!

Upward looking with a gaze toward the sky, sunshine on my face or taking a deep breath of fresh air, flowery, woody, freshly mowed grass fragrances, after a rain, it just causes my face to smile.

Wishing you an upward tilted chin with expectancy sort of day!

Peace & Joy,
Suzanne

Taking my first step.

“You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. Enthusiasm is the spark in your eye, 

the swing in your gait, the grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of your will

and your energy to execute your ideas. Enthusiasts are fighters, 

they have fortitude, they have staying qualities. Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress! With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis.”  
~ Henry Ford

Since youth, my natural joys have been writing and photography.  As long as I can remember, always "wishing" to be a painter some day...perhaps paint some of my photos.  The FEAR of actually "trying" to paint has been with me for over twenty years... good grief!  Beautiful visions in my head and "wish them" to come alive on a surface.

One of the topics discussed in my recent online class with Kelly Rae was "Fear" (that four letter word!)  The fear of not being good enough.  Fear of rejection. Fear of not belonging. Fear of ______, etc. etc. 

The whole idea ("secret ingredient"), is to be ME.  Some of you know ME. Some of you don't.  Over the next few weeks, perhaps we can get to know each other better. *smile*

I've read and read, talked and talked, purchased some supplies over time... and last night, I finally sat down and TRIED to PAINT!  The idea on "how to start" kept floating around in my head all week... urging me, whispering to me.... so, I did it... just to get er' done!  Not sure if this is a "final" or first layer... But, its my first EVER painting attempt... Just the experience was so RELAXING and AMAZING to see colors come alive... *happy tears*  

  "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Peace & Joy,

Suzanne

Happy Sunday! Having our first seasonal rain fall.  Love the smell and how it refreshes the earth. 

Great time to cuddle up with a good journal/book, get creative juices flowing and embrace the day.

Enjoy the encouraging sayings from one of my journals!

Peace & Joy,
Suzanne

Already?

Wow! It's already week five of the creative online course I'm taking with Kelly Rae Roberts.  Absolutely amazing information, inspiration.  The company of members of creative souls is priceless!

There have been a lot of distractions this past week with doctor and physical therapy appointments... I'm three days behind in devouring the course material.  But, that is not going to stress me out or make me sad.  Why?  Because it is such a pleasure to sit down and go through the material and for the past five weeks, its my happy place!  I know it will happen. =)

Okay, I'm going to eat my lunch and begin enjoying another day of the course.  I need to pick up my son in less than an hour from school.  But while he is doing homework... heehee I will enter my happy place again! Woo hoo!

Peace & Joy,
Suzanne

Craft Room Drama

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities.

Seize common occasions and make them great."

~ Orison Swett Marden

About a year and 1/2 ago, my daughter wanted to change bedrooms with my office.  Excited to refresh the space, I painted both, excited to get my "new office" We have an extra room in our attached patio and my husband's office was located there.  However, when he saw how great "my new office" looked (and a bigger space), he asked to join me in the house where everything is going on... sometimes we would forget he was out in "his office" because it was so separated. My husband and I split the room and combined the space with an Ikea book shelf separating our desks facing out the window to our backyard.

During that time, I asked the kids what they think we should do with the new space out on the enclosed patio... and we decided to make it a "Craft Room".  My son diligently proceeded to declare it the Craft Room with the above sign and taped it to the door.  How cute is that?!

Well, we began staging a lot of extra junk we had accumulated over time and put it in my husbands "old office"... Also, new carpeting in the house requiring emptying the rooms... so then the room space became a "Cra* Room"! Oh my!

This year, I've been working away at clearing the space by trashing, donating to friends and family, the Goodwill, etc. I put "get the craft room in order" as part of my 2012 50 Bucket List to accomplish by the end of this year!  The last two years, I've been leading nutrition classes out of my home and there is a lot of materials generated from that too... (banker boxes on the right side).  There was stuff from floor to ceiling where we almost could not enter the room any more...Working in 15+ minute increments a few days a week to move something out... its paid off!  Here is my current status... I can see the counters now!

This shall be my creative space that has a door I can close - YAY!  (The kitchen table still works too.)

Photo Greeting Cards - Collection 3

Did I tell you?  I have many new designs coming up in the future for my photo greeting cards!  Here are some from my first collection.

I'm working on a watermark to place on my individual photos... Excited to share my photography!

Declare Your Day (or Window of Time)

About a month ago, I declared that TUESDAYS! are going to be "My Day".  For the most part, the "day" is the period of time in which my son is in school, haha.  Most days, I use that time to do house chores, run errands and all of those daily tasks that are much easier to do when you don't have a young child with you.

What am I doing on My Tuesdays? An "Artist Date" is recommended in a some of the creative books I 've been reading.  That means scheduling a date with yourself for creativity.  Love that!

If I use My Tuesdays to make doctor appointments, clean house, or other maybe "not so fun" things, that is my choice. However, for the most part, I choose to give myself permission to NOT do the ordinary things.

Here are some of the things I may choose to do:

• Photo shoot at a desired location.
• Visit a friend or family member 
• Take a walk or do a workout
• Make a lunch date with a friend
• Listen or watch personal development
• Have a technical free day (no phone, computer, TV, etc.) 
• Writing exercises or reflections in my journal  
• Take a long bath
• Update my living space to exhibit the current season (i.e. Fall leaves, Harvest, Warm Colors).  I keep a lidded plastic container in the garage with "FALL" listed on it and easily bring it down to swap out my SUMMER items.  When those items look tattered, I toss them and update with newer items (well, new to me - could be store, boutique, Goodwill, garage sale, etc.)
• Not answer the phone
• Learn something new that needs some concentration
• Call a friend at my leisure
• Sit on my swing with a beverage (cool/hot depending on weather) and listen to nature
• Take a break from answering inquiries for a day
• Read for fun
• Rest/Nap (doesn't a hammock sound nice? Perhaps I need that on my wish list. HeeHee)
• Not have play dates for my son (company/extra children after school)
• See a matinee by myself or with someone else (can be tricky on timing before school pick-up)
• Work on my "15 Minutes List" (baby steps toward projects that may take a while to get through... mine is currently a corner in our garage and also the "craft room")
• Play in my garden
• Write a "snail mail" letter to a friend or family member

What do YOU give yourself permission to do in your "windows of time"?

Okay, take care! I am going to eat lunch while I begin day two of week three of the fabulous e-course by Kelly Rae Roberts)!  I truly love learning.

Peace & Joy,
Suzanne