Changing Years

We may already be 43ish days into 2011 but it is still a new year. Thinking about the purpose and possibilities of 2011 has me thinking of past years. I've had tremendously exciting years as well as terribly disappointing years. I've had years of newness and years that were so void they just passed by without even waking up enough to know what year it was. I think I prefer not to ever have another void year.

2011 - several online friends have been discussing what their word for the year is. I don't know my word yet. What I do know about this particular year is this: It's a year that will not be void. It will not be a disappointing year. It will be a year of purpose, which in of itself is exciting. I don't know how 2011 will end and I may not have a concrete goal on this date for the year but I know that no matter what 2011 will be one of the best years I've had in the last decade.

2010 - this was the year of change. I didn't recognize it at the beginning of the year or even in the middle of the year but I definitely embraced it the last part of the year. Some of the best things come when unplanned life happens! 2010 was the return of several things for me. Thanks to my cousin Shannon http://www.blu-bambu.com/ I was able to return to a more artistic way of thinking and looking at life everyday. She introduced me to Shona http://www.shonastudio.blogspot.com/ . I really enjoyed working through her book. I may not have finished all the projects or published all my work as requested but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and it opened my eyes to things that I had missed in my prior void years. I found many muses through this process and to this day I enjoy following each of them and see how they are inspired. Seeing others inspiration creates inspiration. It's kind of like smiling - it's contagious and it spreads to places unknown.

My cousin also implanted a phrase in my mind and it has meant far more to me than the words. "No naughty negative self talk!" That was used in an email conversation regarding a project for The Artistic Mother. (and no I'm not a mother so no one has missed any monumental news) However, as I look back at 2010 and all the changes that occurred I realize that that phrase has been life changing. I think that when you have so many void years that you yourself become void. You lose your sense of self worth. That self worth has been regained.

The picture above on this entry was a great day. It was a day driving home from a new job and my eyes were wide open. I couldn't take my eyes off the sky. And in the FB world most of my friends were posting pictures and comments regarding the sky. It was remarkable so I had to take advantage of the moment and snag several pictures (while driving because I didn't want to miss it).

Where I have been.....

The title of my blog WHY NOT BOTH is very appropriate for me.

1. I don't see why we have to limit ourselves in life
and
2. I need to learn how to master the "BOTH"

This seems to be the year of replacements. Phone, Camera and now a laptop (still waiting on this one as it was definately not in the budget)....so I'm still around.

I'm still doing the Artistic Mother projects. I'm still working too much. I'm still traveling. I'm still having fun. I'm still tired. I'm still excited. I'm still missing out on things. I'm still creating. I'm still learning my new camera. I'm still looking forward to the future. I'm still wanting more.....

I will post pictures soon of my projects. I have varied a bit into my own versions of the projects. I think I've found some things in the projects that I really enjoy and have been "perfecting" those techniques. This year has been a very good creative year for me and for that I am very grateful!

Until pics...have a great weekend!

Week 2-3 Journal (First try)

I used the paper which was from one of my childhood bedrooms. I recently had been tagged in a photo from Kindergarten and thought the two seemed to go hand in hand. I also used oil pastels for the first time. I must say it is definately true - the better the materials the better the end result. I didn't find this project as fun and enticing as making the background papers but that is because it is outside of my comfort zone. (Not that background papers are in my comfort zone but are more familiar than anything I have done in the past.) I will not be giving up - I will do more journals - practice makes perfect or more satisfaction.

Oh and - the words on the picture are symbolic of my motto "Why Not Both".....I remember being "fought" over and asking to choose - Baby Wart or Sugar Pie....really, who could choose between those two prime choice names?

On Location

This week the big draw in Springfield was Dog the Bounty Hunter. He was at a local bookstore...I avoided the crowd and went across the street. This is a much better choice and we should have a book signing with long lines for this book. (PS - I was really tempted to move the Mxxxxx Sxxxxxx books below and replace with The Artistic Mother. Too afraid I would be in trouble. I did however move the "Big A$$ Book of something or other book from the picture"!)

Here Goes It.....(GULP!)

I've finished my papers. The best I can say is: I had fun, I lost myself for awhile and I completed the task. I may have missed steps, not be entirely happy with the end result or might have torn some edges but then again....that is everyday life.

The top two papers are inspired by my childhood bedrooms. Growing up my wall colors were turquoise, purple and lime green. In High School my room changed to pink and green. (Yes I am an 80's girl.) Kind of strange that my mother would pick vibrant colors for my bedrooms when she is such a earth tone color person. (Thank goodness she is branching out into color now even if it does mean lime green toenails and Birkenstock!)

The middle two papers are just my typical color tendencies. Nothing too inspiring. (Maybe I need some lime green toenails.)

The bottom two papers as well as the background papers were inspired by nature. (Ironic since I am not an outdoorsy girl.) The background is liken to the sunset I saw while driving home from work one night last week. The green makes me think of a Hobbit hole but really is suppose to be Spring, which will hopefully truly be here for good soon. The black is NOT like the tornadoes of the Midwest that Spring brings. To me it is the Ocean at night in the darkest hour: constant, moving, subtle and just waiting to be brilliant in the sunlight.

I've really enjoyed this and learned a lot. I definitely look forward to learning more - I have a lot to learn about color, technique and subjectivity. Hopefully each week gets easier when it comes to publicly posting too!

How does TWO years fly by so fast?

It's time to get back to truly "WHY NOT BOTH" I need to find the balance of working and living life.

I'm going to start this journey by joining the group "The Artistic Mother by Shona Cole". No, I'm not a mother but I am a busy woman that loves being creative and finds it hard to find the time. This is going to be a great transition for me!

I'm very excited!