The Need to Know what's Next?

Too funny how we all want to know or find out like that will help us prepare and be on our toes and ready for anything...but if we really did know what was to happen do you think we would be happy with it...?  Would we accept it any easier if we knew in advance what was round the next bend? 

Needing to know can set you/I up for a whole bunch of distorted thinking...circling is more like it...when I personally get in this crazy mind thinking pattern I have to stop really just STOP...and see what I've been doing or where I'm circling.  When and why does this thinking start?  that's another question I'm asking myself.  In my case it's when I spend to much time wandering around on the Facebook and doing the social thing that "Everyone is suppose to be doing"  and helping yourself market what your doing.   When I wander around and really see what everyone is doing then I spend no time doing what I'm suppose to be doing...rambling here...

So I'm to get together with my art tribe and I'm debating if I should enter the One of a Kind Show...it's a big investment that has no guarantee it will pan out even to get my money I invested in it back or that I'll sell out too, that could happen on a positive note. Well I went on the site and looked at all the artist that I know that are doing "it"...then I think should I be doing "it"...I'm going to bring it to my art tribe next Tuesday night...the husband thinks it's risky to do it and if I decided to he'll help. That's music to my ears that he respects me enough to allow me to make that choice and he'll back me up on it. What a sweetie..

Then there's the things that I truly with my gut feel like are already in motion...and see more fitting...as of the workshops and small venues of exhibiting.  Though they are hard work..."hard work never hurt anyone"  I feel I need to trust the gut on this...do I really know what is right or which direction. 

Well here goes...for some time now I've felt the need to tap into a more spiritual side of the creative process... and along with that comes, "Find something you love to do and you never have to work a day in your life." Can that be still true?  Can one live their dream...I believe so.  Will it be easy?  No but will be character building for sure, will it be journey? will it be an adventure? will it be exciting and be my drama?   all Yes on these answers

I've tried to listen more to the gut this year and the flow  of my thought process...hear me out.  "God's got a Plan for me."  So when I don't know I turn to that saying/mantra and find comfort in it and realize that all myself there's been surprising moments when I've felt lost or in big doubt that direction has come as of which way to go...what choices to make, what classes to teach, etc. Never fails me. As of now I'm in the works to set up an Artist Way course at Mayslake Peabody Estate, it will be over 4 months long because of the holiday in the late fall and winter. It's something I've wanted to do for so long...I'd just be the gate keeper of the course the rest is up to the individuals that decide to take it...it's about Good Orderly Direction in one's life anyways, 

As I write this out I feel stronger in flowing the gut instinct over super art coachy-stuff (don't know why I sound so negative about the art coaching stuff sounds silly as I write this out)  as of push get out there, crack the whip, get on more on the social scene and do this, do that more ...??? I'm spinning already.  Not that I'm afraid it's more of... I'm follow what is true for myself and the approach to things.

Here's what I know....it's nice to have a little nest egg in the bank and not spend it right away and re-invest it back into the "company so to say"  as of jumping into the One of Kind show. (big bucks) Good for some people but not sure for me...The idea popped into my head to look into projector for my lap top.  I could use it as a teaching tool...when I get thoughts like this it excites me more then the angst of should I or should I... do the One of a Kind show...

Then I get what's working in my life, Question....I've been teaching in some form or another for over 20 years easy. Though it takes from me it fulfills me more so then doing a anxiety ridden show...so as I type this out on the blog I've coming to an understanding to trust the gut...Intuition is my word for the year and I've always had it but seeking to tune into it more...Dailing up to a better reception is all...Talk about rambling..

I've wanted to give it try and please forgive me for the first time video experience, hoping to get more comfortable with my own voice and babbling away on video...only music now,  so if you want to see where the gut lead me a few months ago here's where....Collage process video's

 

Rain is passing....

So when asked this question many times...What do you when your not doing your art...well I could rattle off a ton of things but my favorite is working in my yard, getting my hands in the dirty moving the plants and weeding...yes weeding is the sanity part of the whole time.  I find in the mundane task of pulling weeds peace...Crazy as it sounds but it's time to open up the mind and let things flow in and out with easy. 

I'm in the works of weeding around the area that I will be putting up the papermaking tent..which I hope she holds out one more year...there's some pin wholes happening on the top and some other areas I need to do some hand stitching to hold her together but I think...well hope that it will hang in there.  I really don't need a tent to make paper with I can do that in the open but what's nice is I can leave all the supplies and just come in and set for the day and then leave it after I zipper it closes.  With the protection of the tent it allows me to do that. So that's the plan for the weekend..

Also along with all this...the brain is refreshed and wanting to get back in the studio...I've gotten a good start when I was at the workshop WI. on the last of the series I'm doing about Woman and Nature. ( I'd show picture of it but blogger is being silly with up loading image today...what's up with that?)   Then I would like to work on I think....something with the painted ponies..but I've got to do some research about them first. Listening to the gut and seeing what comes...plus I get to do the Violin soon..waiting for the client to get back in town...so excited about that. Rambling and time to get going and move on as much as I can this day.
 

Getting back in gear

Well took me a bit longer...then normal and just this morning I figure it out...so not that, that's done and my morning journaling addressed that I was able to put the best foot forward.

Walking and weeding will do it most of the time as of regaining my core balance...but with all the standing I did along with everyone else in the workshop I think my legs too a beating so...I resorted to weeding and being outside for 5 hours weeding my brick walk ways was natures therapy.

While I was out there doing that my youngest and second oldest daughters sprayed our old metal patio set an nice brick red which is perfect color for the patio area...They are troopers spraying it all, who would think one's fingers would get tired but holding down the spray nozzles isn't easy for that amount of time.

 

I was thankful for my morning pages as I wrote I was seeking guidance and wondering what the next thing or direction I should go in...with all the information that keeps coming in I feel bombarded with the next right thing to be doing?  Then it started raining harder and I sit at the kitchen window looking out, listening to it and feels very comforted.  Our dream the husband and I of having my space in the garage and him building a new place in the back yard is so much more a great image to live with then anything else...the coming back to home there and working on this dream we had when we first built this house in hopes of our retirement and future together came in view again...My rock this morning said "Dreams are resilient" and don't I believe that. All of a sudden I had direction, acceptance and understanding.... Be it the low E-hormones that had it's grips on me a few days ago or the let down of hosting workshop...I'm back on my feet again.   The constant reminder I have to play in my head is there is a plan...and I don't always know what it is but more is always revealed when I get myself closer to the attitude and mind set there's a calm...of Good Orderly Direction.  When the inner compose get aligned then all is good for the now. Being present in the now is the best place to be.

 

I go and teach at this places and their wonderful but to be able to teach out of my homestead some day would be the greatest...so I'm keeping that on the post-it note and getting ready for a road trip today.  I so want to see the exhibit at the Zhou Brothers Art Center. The Midwest Collage Society has there work there...(I've got three pieces in this show)  I hear it's amazing so I want to take some picture of it to post on the blog for the group.  

 

why am I?  to be of service
who am I?  a creative human being
and where am I going? with good orderly direction..
If I can answer these three questions,
I always know I'm OK!  "I'm Ok"  Hoot! Hoot!

 

 

Off to shower and get ready for the day and met it with gratitude.  

A visit to the International Crane Foundation

 I had to stop at the Inter. Crane Foundation on the way home Saturday from Dillman's. Though I had to back track a bit after visiting with my parents it was worth it.  I so enjoy listening and seeing this beautiful birds.

 Here are the nesting Whooping Cranes.

I didn't walk all the way back like I had wanted to or thought I had wanted too, it was already 2 in the afternoon and I had a 3 or so hour ride home yet so I opted to pass on the walk.  But way back in the distance is the path and area where the most research and fun happens...the Crane area is netted off so they don't take off while they are studied and sorts.  Hard to see from the picture. 

My stay at Dillman's is always an adventure and retreat to get away..though I'm working most of the time I'm really enjoying the whole place.

Home now and yesterday I spent it regaining a sense of balance in the mundane tasks of tending to the homestead and putting away supplies. I was also able to order new for the next workshop coming up.. It was me and my dogs and the extra critters in the house everyone else was gone..so nice calm day. 

Now to get back in to the studio and finish up some pieces and also I need to head to the printer for some more prints...replenish some supplies there too.

A bit of show and tell time..

 Cida's piece, she's got some stamping on top of the papers too.

 Jan's piece was amazing.

 Adele showing us her sketch book.

 Carol C.

 Carol was amazed to see what she was able to do..

 Jill was popping out collages one after another.

 Carol M was coming in for a watercolor workshop but it was cancelled and being she couldn't cancel her flight she came to the collage workshops...produced some amazing work.

 Mary Jo had now fear... she jumped in to the canvas and all the water color papers.

 Bette our Laughter Queen was really enjoying her self.

 Pam was able to meet her challenges and create some great works.

 Mona keep surprising us with her works... really amazing.

Mona sharing her thoughts on this pieces that we all loved.

Progress shots from our Last day at Dillman's

 Barb had to leave early but I was able to take a few shots of her work...in progress and this landscape is done.

 Carol C. is laying out her little landscape.

 Pam is just finished wiping off the glazing on the little one she's working on.

 Everyone once in a while a little corner just doesn't get tacked down so you need to put a little polymer down and do it the old fashion way. Bette's doing just that.

 Oops I think I have this sideway's but we we're all very excited for Adele and this blue sheet of paper and the wonderful effects she got which then went right in to the main part of collage.

 Jan...was so excited by how all this was going together and the way they working together.

 Our bright gal, Carol M. has decided to use her blue for the sky instead of a different color.

Cida begins...She intently worked quietly on her pieces and surprised us with some great pieces.

C.R.O.W.S.

Well it's time to pack up the personal stuff, I'm back at my room here early and watching and listening to the rain falling.  I'll be heading home today and though it's been the most awesomest time I do miss home.  I'll post more photo's later when I have a faster connection.. out in the northern woods is great but when you needing the connection to ramble about things it takes a while.

I do want to say the woman that came to the workshop shop this year some repeat creative offenders and others new really clicked...Laughter most nights went on and on...Every had a part to play as one might say.   And the group of us now has a name..heck anyone that would like to be can...it's called the CROW Society...stands for Creative Rowdy Outrageous Women's Society. We all liked that.

A suggestion by Carol M from Canada this year was to say one word for each person there.  She had wanted me to share it with them at our last big dinner together but I was all drained out of brain cells and stuck on the right brain...but when I slept on it and came back to them the next day at our closing ceremony I had a One Word for each of them as I handed out the Certificates. I thought about what each person brought.

Jan - Excitement
Cida - Sweet Bird
Mary Jo - Understanding
Adele - Grace
Carol C - Love ability
Barb - Strength
Mona - Wisdom
Jill - Peace
Carol M - Brightness
Pam - Knowledge
and our Bette - She brought Laughter to every table...

We really had a wonderful time together...
Packing up again and hitting the road...saying good bye to my home away from home and the Loon's morning and evening songs.

 

Last of day 4....and their still hanging in there with me...

 Jan is coating her canvas to prepare for the next level of collaging.

 Adele is picking her palette from the huge box of papers she's made.

 Behind the scenes..   coming from the second studio looking into our studio space...this is the grand studio space to work in.

 I added the prayer flags this year as we are working with the same materials and with just adding a layer of this and a layer of that what great flags where made. 

 I had enough hooks to have all of us hang one...but not all are finished at this time but before rain comes in today I wanted to get a picture of it all.

 My sample pieces...first one I did.. image transfers, stamping and some gesture lines.

 Here is one using all the printed papers and really having some fun with it and adding more printing on the surface.

My little 6 x 6 on panel... piece.

Moving into day Four

 Jill's sample exercise pieces.

 Pam's got a great idea with the photo of the gym shoes. 

Carol's rich fall colors pop out in this piece. 

 Barb's wonderful story telling side of life is sneaking out.

 Carol M's small sample pieces. Learning how to move into image transfer and working with pastels.

 Jill is moving right along here...we had a great time using the stencils cut outs and sanding over them.

 

Jill is working with a monochromatic color scheme. 

Day three, and four at Dillman's

 Barb...has decided to create a clear tissue paper with string.

 Jill working on the tissue papers.

 Jan is working on her string tissue papers

 Mary Jo has decided to work with the bleeding of the paints on the tissue papers.

 Jan is creating some really nice purple papers. 

 Pam's decided to just lay the strings straight across.

 Carol is creating some really great papers.

 Three top ones are Pam's exercise pieces and the bottom ones are Mona's

 Barb's small sample exercise piece are there and she is really enjoying them.

Cida has fallen for the floating collage effect.