June 2 - Day 2 of Staycation

Day 2 has been great.

Went to church this morning  and then Starbucks for Chai tea.  They are selling Oprah Chai so I think I will try it on Friday.

Started working on my Lifebook art projects, I am so far behind, but that is the purpose of this staycation, to do art everyday and have fun.  This is lesson 6 which is practicing with spray inks and leaving white space on the canvas.  This is a work in progress may finish it tomorrow, not sure.  Once I get this painting where I like it I will start on part 2.

Also completed day 2 of ICAD, it was a hoot.  One more task before I go to bed, start working on my "travel" journal.  No cation is complete with out a journal to capture the essence of the "trip".

until tomorrow....

pilgrim

June 1 Day 1 of Art Retreat Staycation

I did this painting nearly 4 years ago as part of a beginning Acrylic painting class at UNLV.  I should get it framed.  There is something about a frame that makes a painting look so special.  Today is June 1st and the first day of what I am calling my Art Retreat Staycation.  I will be home this summer and I wanted to be able to enjoy this time.  I have signed up for a lot of online classes and I need to take time to catch up and create.  Instead of becoming overwhelmed, I decided to make "catching up" as enjoyable as possible.  So I am going to be blogging about my staycation and posting pictures over the course of the next three months.

So, what did I do today?  Facilitated an RCIA class, was lector at 12 noon Mass.  Worked on day one of ICAD (index card art challenge).  This wonderful event will run from June 1 to July 31st.  Everyday I will be completing an art piece on an Index Card.  I will be posting once a week on Saturday Afternoon.  I signed up for Mary Ann Moss' Sketchbookery class which starts July 1st.  I still need to do my day one homework for the Sacred Alter ecourse.  And I need to write in my staycation journal, have to make a list of the classes I need to work on.

All in all it was a great day,  looking forward to tomorrow.  Going to Morning Mass and then home to  Casa Eloisa (a derivative of my middle name) to start my artsy day.

Caio!!!

pilgrim

What You Can Learn From Rejection---Guest Post by Margo Dill



Margo's New Book



Margo Dill

What You Can Learn From Rejection

        By Margo L. Dill

 

As a writer, I collect rejections. It’s not the collection I was hoping for, and I do have another collection in my bag—a collection of publications. But no matter how many acceptances, glowing reviews, contest wins, and published books I have, the rejections seem bigger and more powerful than the good stuff.
 

        I think this is true for most creative types. We thrive on positive feedback and good reviews. One reason—it’s how many of us make a living; and without acceptances and sales, we make no money. The other reason, in my opinion, is we want someone to love our work as much as we do. We pour our hearts out and have spent hours upon hours upon hours slaving over a piece of art, a manuscript, or a new song. We want people to LOVE what we’ve spent time doing. This is natural and this is normal, but it’s not always possible.
 

        Both books I’ve had published, Finding My Place (a middle-grade historical fiction novel set in the Civil War in Vicksburg, MS) and Caught Between Two Curses (a young adult light paranormal set in Chicago, IL) were rejected numerous times. I spent YEARS drafting and revising, writing queries and sending in submissions, attending conferences and pitching to agents and editors. During these years, I took my manuscripts to critique groups, where I often received constructive criticism (which can even be hard to take sometimes) and rejections—one agent even saying, “I just don’t understand the baseball thing in Caught Between Two Curses.” (One of the curses is the infamous Curse of the Billy Goat on the Chicago Cubs.)
 

        So, what have I learned?

·       Not everyone will love your art, whatever it is. But if you work hard, you will find your audience and have success.
 

·       Don’t compare your success with the success of someone who has “made it.” You have NO IDEA, unless this person has told you, how many times he/she was rejected before making it BIG.
 

·       Persistence and hard work are everything in creative fields. Most people who are unsuccessful think it should be easy to paint a picture, write a book, or record a song. If it’s easy, you’re not doing it right.
 

·       On bad days, allow yourself to feel the pain of rejection. It’s part of the creative process. Once you have recovered, ask yourself if there’s anything you can learn from the rejection.
 

Caught Between Two Curses has been out for a couple months now, and it has gotten some great reviews. Some readers really understand my main character, Julie, and her struggle with her boyfriend pressuring her to have sex and trying to help her family break the curses that keep killing her loved ones. They understand her quirky voice and unsure ways. But one teen who read the book wrote me and said that she thought I was a good writer, but she wanted to hit Julie over the head for most of the book. I took a deep breath, smiled a little at the comment, and then moved on, working on my next two projects that I hope to introduce to the world soon.

 

If you are interested in reading Caught Between Two Curses, you can find it at all online retailers, including Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J8UWR4K ) and Indiebound.org (http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780991069569). It’s the story of 17-year-old Julie Nigelson, who is cursed.  So is her entire family. And it’s not just any-old-regular curse, either—it’s strangely connected to the famous “Curse of the Billy Goat” on the Chicago Cubs. Julie must figure out this mystery while her uncle lies in a coma and her entire love life is in ruins: her boyfriend Gus is pressuring her to have sex, while her best friend Matt is growing more attractive to her all the time. Somehow, Julie must figure out how to save her uncle, her family’s future, and her own love life—and time is running out!

 

Margo L. Dill is an author, speaker, writing instructor for WOW! Women On Writing, and freelance editor (Editor 911), living in St. Louis, MO. Read more on her website, http://margodill.com/blog/ or on http://www.thelitladies.com, where she blogs about GIRL POWER! on Tuesdays.

 

Margo L. Dill

Join me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Editor-911-Margo-L-Dill/346210516982
*Finding My Place, middle-grade (ages 9 to 12)  historical fiction, White Mane Kids, 2012
(Winner of the 2013 Eloquent Quill Youth Book Award)
*Caught Between Two Curses, young adult, light paranormal, Rocking Horse Publishing, 2014
*Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire, and the Case of the Missing Cookies, picture book, Guardian Angel Publishing, 2014
*Lucy and the Red Ribbon Week Adventure, picture book, High Hill Press, 2014
http://www.margodill.com

One More day.....

Hello Dear Readers, just one more day until Margo Dill will be the guest blogger here at Thoughts Along the Way....She has a really informative topic planned and I know you will enjoy it.

I also ask that you visit her blog, her pertinent information will be a the end of her post and leave a comment if you letting her know how much you enjoyed her topic.

UNTIL TOMORROW.....Have a great day

pilgrim

.

Coming to Thoughts Along the Way - Margo Dill

Hello Dear Readers.......

How are you this morning, I hope that it is bright and Sunny in your neck of the woods.  Exciting news here on the blog..on Wednesday, May 21st.  I will have a guest blogger.   Her name is Margo Dill and she is an wonderful author of young adult books.  I am so excited (isn't that normal for me),  anyhoo, I am so excited because this marks the first time I have had a guest Blogger on my site.

How did I meet Margo?  A few years ago I took an ecourse through Women on Writing (WOW). The course was taught by Margo and was about keeping a blog.  I have used many of the tips from the lesson here on my blog, such as writing reviews of books for friends, finding a focus and blogging quite often.  Over the past two years, my blog has greatly improved.  I now have 54 followers (although I still would like to have 100 by the end of the year).

I will post another reminder tomorrow for you to come and visit my blog on Wednesday, May 21st.  I am in the process of reading Margo's new book and will probably post a review in my Random Thoughts Tuesday post on May 27th.  So a lot is happening on the blog here in Henderson.

Until tomorrow peace and love.....pilgrim

Day 3 - The Auction Has Ended, the Need for Prayer Continues

CRYING TEARS OF HOPE


 

Dear Reader, I was trying to think about what I would write for this last post regarding the #bringbackourgirls Art Auction.  While it is the last day of the auction, the need for prayers and concern has not ended.  We really do not know what will happen to those young girls in Nigeria, but our prayers should be just as fervent tomorrow, next week, next month as they are today.

 

Prayers for all young girls in the US, in Japan, in Nigeria, in Kenya, in South Africa, in Russia, in Saudi Arabia, in Iran, in the Caribbean Islands, in Las Vegas, in Detroit, in the Appalachian Mountains, in New York, everywhere.  We have been given an assignment by Jesus...Acts 1:8-9 says "And you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the utter most parts of the earth."  Regardless of your denomination or beliefs we have been called to be witnesses, through our art, through our words, through our example, through our prayers and through our love.

 

Thank you for reading my posts the past few days, for commenting on my facebook page, for all that you have done to keep the word alive.  There are many places in this world in need of prayer as I said earlier, there are two psalms that you can copy, keep someplace where you can see them and pray as often as you can - Psalm 1 and Psalm 91.

 

I am humbled to have been apart of this fantastic event, and encouraged to continue to search for ways to help in some small way to make this world a better place.  I am humbled that someone actually purchased my painting.  I am just humbled.

 

Thank You to Jessica Sporn for introducing us to this wonderful event and making us aware of  www.girlrising.com.  Thank for placing a call for Art and a call for concern.  Jessica, you are truly an inspiration.  Friends, please check out Jessica's blog  www.jessicasporn.blogspot.com.

 

A special Thank you to Marianne Lanuti Shreder (you know why).

 

on the road to somewhere....pilgrim

Day 2 of Bring Back Our Girls Art Auction

 

 

Dear Reader, I have been thinking about something and decided to write about it today. Today, Friday May 16th is the second day of the Art Auction to benefit GirlRising.com.  It is amazing because I am participating with some really spectacular artists.  The painting above is my contribution to this project and I have received some BIDS!!!!  Oh be still my heart.

As I think back over my life, especially the past few years, I would have never imagined that I would be participating in such a worthwhile endeavor or that I would be able to paint such a portrait.  As a child, I loved to draw.  I was pretty much a loner and spent many hours in my room drawing.  I taught myself to do many things in the comfort of my room.  I made my own patterns for doll clothes and made clothes for my dolls.  I taught myself to knit, I made games because we could not afford to buy them.  I read a lot of books and at the age of 15 began to write poetry.

At the age of 17 I was admitted to the University of Michigan.  It was 1967 and U of M was woefully lacking in minority students.  In fact less than one percent of the student population was African American.  It was a big deal in my family to be accepted to U of M, but to the school I was part of a means to keeping federal funding.  They had to let us in, but they did not have to Keep us.  Those who were strong made it, those who were weak or very sensitive like me did not.  I was told I could not write, was not the right fit, yada yada yada.....

I came home pregnant, went to work and took classes off and on at the community college where I felt comfortable.  In 1999 I finished my journey and graduated from Wayne State University with honors. 

I now think about these young girls in Nigeria who risk their lives everyday to get an education so that they can have a better life.  I think about them and wish I had known at 17 what I know now...never let anyone cause you to doubt your good.

GirlRising.com and all other programs designed to help young girls receive an education are a God send and what ever I can do to promote their cause I will.  It has taken me many years to overcome the self doubt.  What I pray for is that young girls all over the world are praised and appreciated for their courage and strength.  I pray that they become examples for all so that we never again doubt our worth as viable participants on the world stage.  Please visit www.girlrising.com to get more information about this worthwhile endeavor. 

I have been blessed with bids, there are some paintings that have not, please consider stopping by and bidding.  Love to you...pilgrim

Today is the Day!!!!! Auction of Beautiful Art for #bringbackourgirls

Dear Reader: 
Below are the URL's of the artists participating in the Auction for Girlrising.com
You can visit their blogs to see their art and find out a little about them.  I hope this Auction will be a fun and rewarding experience for you.



Jessica Sporn   http://jessicasporn.blogspot.com
Linda Kittmer  http://lindakittmer.blogspot.ca
Ronda Palazzari  http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com
Marjie Kemper   http://www.marjiekemper.com
Judy Shea   http://thekeytomyart.wordpress.com
Glenda Hogland   http://pilgrimsthoughts.blogspot.com
Astrid Maclean  http://astridsartisticefforts.blogspot.com
Lisa Pace   http://lisapace.com
Jackie Neal   http://creatingwithoutcrayons-jackiepneal.com
Claudine Criner   http://claudinesartcorner.blogspot.com
France Papillon   http://www.france-papillon.com
Kristin Van Valkenburgh  http://TwinkleTwinkleLikeAStar.blogspot.com
Marcia Beckett  http://marciabeckett.blogspot.com
Ruth Levy   http://lerusho.wordpress.com/
Sally Lynn MacDonald   http://www.SallyLynnMacDonald.com
Renee Zarate   http://renee-boltonhouse.blogspot.com
Natasha May   http://natashamay.blogspot.com/
Carmen Whitehead   http://www.serendipitystudiobycw.blogspot.com/
Seth Apter   http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Shaw   http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/
Amy Ingardia-Walker  http://creativelyquirkyathome.blogspot.com/
Kelly Warren  http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com
Julie Bernier http://juliebernierphotography.zenfolio.com/
Adrienne Hoban  http://www.allure-decor.com/
Krista van Tol   http://craftylittlepigtails.blogspot.com
Cheryl Grigsby http://cherylspaperartz.blogspot.com
Jill Meyer www.jillmeyer.com
Lisa Flaherty http://mypeaceofpaper.blogspot.com
Kerry C. Mitchell http://kerrycmitchell.com

I am so excited.  Have Fun!!!!!!! 

 

pilgrim

One More Day Until Auction - Random Thoughts

Hello Dear Readers, here is some information regarding the Auction tomorrow, the group our auction is supporting and more information regarding #bringbackourgirls.

- You can go to  http://girlrising.com/nigeria-action/ and learn about actions to take and also more about Girl Rising, which is where the money raised from the auction will go.
-  Go to http://www.32auctions.com/bringbackourgirls May 15th to May 17th to participate in the auction.
- You can find more information about #bringbackourgirls and the importance of girls’ education at:http://www.unfpa.org/gender/empowerment2.htm;http://girlrising.com/about-us/index.html#why-girls;http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/opinion/sunday/kristof-whats-so-scary-about-smart-girls.html?_r=0 which has this great quote: “Why are fanatics so terrified of girls’ education? Because there’s no force more powerful to transform a society. The greatest threat to extremism isn’t drones firing missiles, but girls reading books.”
Thank you for reading my blog posts, this is such an important situation.  

Until tomorrow---pilgrim

A Call To Art on line Auction

Dear Reader, there are some wonderful artists participating in this auction such as Mary Beth Shaw, Seth Apter, and Marjie Riordan Kemper.  You can view all of the art on the site between now and the start of the Auction, to let you think about which piece much grace your walls.

Here is the piece I donated to the action

 

Bidding opens on May 15th at 7 am and will end on May 17th AT 3 PM EST.  The opening bid my painting is $10.00.  Our goal is to raise funds for girlsrising.com which is a global campaign for girl's education.

 

The poem on the piece is:

 

I cry tears of Hope

My heart bleeds for peace

I long for the return of innocence

I pray and pray---

When will it come.

 

-Glenda Hoagland 2014

 

 

I will be posting a reminder here each day......Watch this space

 

 



Creating painting for A Call to Art Project: Crying Tears of Hope

Collage Layer of Painting





Sketch on Deli Paper

Deli Paper drawing added to Painting

 

Finished Painting- Crying Tears of Hope



The pictures above depict some of the steps used to complete my painting "Crying Tears of Hope."
As a note to myself, I have to remember to sign it.  Why did I try such am ambitious endeavor (at least ambitious for me)?  Because of the events of the past few weeks.  Young girls, children really, were abducted from their school in Nigeria and it broke my heart.  They were simply trying to get an education that would better not only their lives, but the lives of their families and villages.  I have never been to Africa, but I have studied about this massive continent, the needs of its people and how they trying to overcome years upon years of pain and suffering.

My painting is about crying, longing, and praying.  Praying for a return to innocence, crying for hope among the people, a heart bleeding for peace.  This painting could be for many parts of the world really.  It is universal in scope and specific in intent.

I truly never thought I could do anything like this and yet I have.  Dear Reader, I am part of a group, Artists for #BringBackOurGirls.  This movement of artists is being coordinated by Jessica Sporn.  Jessica is  talented mixed media Artist, supporter of the Arts and a genuine humanitarian.  Jessica and her family make pilgrimages to Guatemala to work in the villages helping to build homes and make life better for the villages they visit.  I follow her blog www.jessicasporn.blogspot.com.  On this blog she posts videos of her mixed media process and her humanitarian endeavors.  I have learned a lot. 

My painting and many others are displayed on the auction website:  http://32auctions.com/bringbackourgirls.  On May 14th I will post the links of all the participants.  You can find more information at http://girlrising.com/nigeria-action and https://www.facebook.com/bringbackourgirls.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posting today.  Comments are always welcome.  Have a great day and be sure to hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

pilgrim

Learning to Have Fun

The painting above was such fun to do.  I am posting this to start a series of blog articles about a journey towards having fun.  I have been so serious about my art, trying to be perfect and accepted.  Through it all if forgot to accept my art myself and to have fun.

This painting started out as an abstract painting assignment as part of the Painting Faces Online class taught by Judy Wise.  Katie Kendrick highly recommended this class so I decided to put all other online classes on hold for the month of April and concentrate on this class.  It was the best decision, but back to the painting above.  After making marks on the page, putting an initial layer of paint, covering that layer with clear gesso and finger painting with more colors, I sat to look and see what spoke to me.  I saw two big eyes (I seem to have something with eyes), anyway, I drew in the eyes and realized that what I wanted to draw was a clown and it morphed from there.  Drawing and painting on the diagonal made the clown look like he was falling, so I decided to give him a hat that was falling off.  I laughed as I was painting, it made me happy, so happy that I am going to get it framed.

Each morning when we get a new assignment, I have to have a serious talk with myself.  "Glenda we are going to have fun today.  If you need to play that video 100 times, you will get the technique."  I have my own style, it is being perfected and this new found zest for fun and enjoyment is spreading to other areas of my life and my art.  I am smiling as I write this because this all falls into my plan of preparing for my 65th birthday….a monumental time that will be filled with joy and wonder.

Next in this series will the Calla Lilies that became tulips..It is a blockbuster

Until next time…..pilgrim

Finished portrait

image, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

This is the finished portrait of the initial drawing posted yesterday. So fun to do.

Even if it is just one more

BEGINNINGS OF PORTRAIT

Last year I wrote 109 posts.  That was really good for me.  This year my intention is to exceed that number.  I would like to write at least 200 posts; however, if all else fails I commit to 110, one more than last year.

It is exciting to think of this goal because I have made it achievable and it should be a lot of fun and quite interesting.  Here's the deal dear reader, if a post happens to touch you in some way, please leve a comment.  Comments make me happy and I appreciate your stopping by.

Have a good night.

Random Thoughts Tuesday: Blessings

I woke up this morning and the first thought that crossed my mind was how blessed I am. I thought about my life and all of the things I have done.  Things that I would never have dreamed of and a feeling of deep gratitude enveloped me.

ARTIFACTS FROM ETRUSCAN CAVES

 CHURCH IN ORVIEO, ITALY

BRIDGE IN VENICE

 GLASS SCULPTURE IN MURANO, ITALY

 CEILING OF THE PARTHENON

TREVI FOUNTAIN IN ROME

 SUMMER PALACE IN BEIJING, CHINA

SUMMER PALACE

 GARDEN IN THE CITY

 MOAT SURROUND WALL IN XIAN

 FRESH VEGETABLES IN STREET MARKET

 STREET MARKET IN CHONGQING

 SHORE ALONG YANGTSE RIVER

POT IN SHANGHAI MUSEUM

 

 

Looking at these pictures taken on two separate trips, Italy in 2012 and China in 2013, I realize that they are but a small glimpse into why I am feeling such gratitude today.  Growing up I never dreamed that my life would take such a turn.  Living in Las Vegas, is like being on a permanent vacation.  It is very humbling to think of all of the blessings I have received and there are still more to come.  More exploring and adventures, more life to live and for that I am eternally grateful.

 

randomly thinking and grateful on a Tuesday morning....pilgrim

Happy Anniversary: 30 Years of Card Making; 30 Years an Artist

 HAND DRAWN AND PAINTED

 RUBBER STAMP AND PAINTED

WASHI TAPE CANDLES

 

 

February 14, 1984 I began a journey that has spanned 30 years.  The magnitude of which did not really hit me until this week.  Because of my dear friend and co-worker GeeGee Black I started making handmade greeting cards.

 

I wrote poetry and had been doing so since around 1965.  Most of it was kept private, but a few were shown to friends.  Anyway GeeGee asked me to write a Valentine's poem for her good friend and I said that I would.  She was also a great promoter of my talent so she solicited other customers and told them I could make a card to go with the poems.   Huh????? I had never made a card in my life.  To the rescue my other friend and co-worker Sue Karam.  Sue went to the Grosse Pointe Park Library and got a book on making cards for me to review.  It seems that the first greeting cards were made using paper doilies.  That was interesting, but I still did not know what to do.  As Valentine's day fast approached, I became more and more worried.  I decided that the best thing I could do was to write out some instructions and follow that plan.....

 

 I still have the book with the original orders along with the type of poem they wanted.  I developed 4 styles of cards using paper doilies and went to work.  It was fun but let me tell you those cards were not masterpieces; however, they were made with love.

 

ABSTRACT FLOWERS

 

 

Over the years I have made hundreds of cards for family and friends as well as designed my own cards for Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's day, etc. most for free or at little cost.  The amazing thing is that I never considered it art or myself an artist.  Truthfully, not even a poet.  I just did not embrace my talent and that is a shame.  But, but, but......it is never too late.  My last post was about my attendance at An Artful Journey and the paintings I conceived while there.  I returned home with a different mindset.  Not one of ego, but one of appreciation.  Appreciation for the fact that I was able to dig deep within and realize that I had been hiding my talents, just doing enough but not really exploring the depths of my being and getting to the core, the essence of what I can really do.  I mostly used my talents to help others.  I have a friend who got into nursing school partly on the essay I wrote on why she wanted to be a nurse.  The advisor said anyone who wants to be a nurse this bad should be in the program.

 

I have written a couple of  written Masters Thesis' for friends; college papers for friends and a document that allowed a friend to get 2 years of college credit using her life as a housewife to show how each task could be equated to a college course for credit.  It was so much fun helping friends and more or less honing my skills.

 

Now, I am at a stage in my life where I want to just be open and explore, Make my cards, paint my pictures, start to write poems again and just enjoy the artistic me.  I have always been good at promoting the gifts of others; but never myself.

 

I want to shout from the rooftops I AM AN ARTIST.....  Today I say Happy Anniversary to Me.  30 years of making art, here's to many more.  Thanks GeeGee for seeing in me what I did not see in myself.

 

until next time.....pilgrim

 





Random thoughts Tuesday: An Artful Journey

WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

IT MUST BE LOVE

ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS

The paintings above are the result of spending time in the foothills of the Santa Clara Mountains just outside of Los Gatos, California from Thursday Feb. 27th to Monday Morning March 3rd.  An Artful Journey 2014 was just that a journey,  

THE JOURNEY BEGINS:

I spent a few weeks preparing my supplies for this retreat.  I looked at the supply list and had most of the items (no surprise since my house looks like a wonderful art supply store).  There were a few items I had to buy, absorbent ground, 3 18x24 gessoed canvasses, filbert paint brushes, a few more sponge paint brushes; and one more bottle of gesso.  That is it.  I packed up two priority boxes and mailed a lot of the supplies to make room in my suitcase for the canvasses and my clothes.  As the day drew near I really got scared.  How was I going to paint on such large canvasses.  I really wanted to take Katie Kendrick's class.  I had her book and wanted to really stretch myself and find the poetry in my art; but, 18x24?  I could barely paint in an art journal and all of my other work has been based on class assignments not thinking about something on my own.  Oh the horror of it all.  Well Feb. 27th came and I focussed on the fact that I would see my good friends Jenny Messerle, Michelle Unger, Gail Pfrommer, and Monica Moran.  It was a comfort to know that I would be among kindred spirits, so I got up at 4 am to make sure everything was packed (it was), house was clean (it was), garbage out (took it out), travel backpack ready with ticket where I could find it (it was)…..Larry my cab driver and friend arriving at 8 am (he did) and I was on my way.  

The flight was good, Gail and I met up at the airport and flew in together.  Shuttle service was there in San Jose waiting for us.  There were two cars because 6 of us needed rides (Gail coordinated the entire process and did a great job).  Met up with Annie Hooten (doesn't she have the best name) and all was well with the world.

THE PRESENTATION CENTER

An Artful Journey is held at the Presentation Center which is a wonderful haven in the mountains.  It is run by an order of Sisters and I can never remember it's name but trust me they are really sweet.  They ate dinner with us each night.  Anyhoo, this locale is magical.  There are walking trails, a labyrinth, and we even found the swimming pool (who knew).  There is a sense of peace that I wish I could bottle up and bring home.  We arrived around 2:30 and Cindy Woods, our director, and friends were ready to greet us with fruit, cake, smiles and the most wonderful books made by DJ Pettit.  Jenny, Michele and I roomed together in the Lower St. Anthony cabin.  This irony was not lost on me because last year I went to a silent retreat in Alhambra, California and was assigned to the St. Anthony room (need to read about St, Anthony during lent).

We took our supplies to our classrooms and prepared for dinner.  After dinner we had orientation and met our instructor/friends.  

FINDING MY SOUL/SPIRIT

On Friday classes began.  Katie greeted us with open arms.  Some of the students had taken her classes several times before.  This was my first.  Before we started painting each day Katie read to us about the wonders of the creative process and then we meditated and created a sacred space for our process.  It was a priceless experience.  Over the next few weeks I am going to talk more about each painting individually because it is important that I write about the process for each one.  However, working on the three paintings above was very emotional for me.  It was as if flood gates opened and the me that wanted to be released burst forth wide eyed and full of wonder.  It was very emotional and tears flowed.  Tears of happiness, tears of surprise, tears of humility and tears of joy.

PAINTINGS HAVE A NAME

I took my paintings to Small Church Community session last night because some friends wanted to see them.  They suggested that I should name them and it seemed right.  I am not going to explain now because the name may change; for today though, they all have a "working" title.

Well, this is getting long so I am going to end this post.  I hope you enjoyed reading about my journey…..TO BE CONTINUED……

Blessings and Love, pilgrim

Random Thoughts on a Monday before Tuesday.....

Portrait 15 of the 29 day portrait challenge

I went to a funeral today of a marvelous man.  He and his wife were very nice and welcoming to me as a member of our church, St. Thomas More Catholic Community.  I learned some great lessons as I listened to his son Brother John Eustice deliver the Homily in remembrance of his Dad.

First, Bob (that was his name, Bob Eustice) used a quote that I learned a few years ago and use quite often , "Bloom Where You Are Planted.".  These few words say so much about accepting life as it is exactly where you are.  I have had to call on this often in the past few years as I have tried to embrace the aging process.

Second, Bob was a treasure hunter, he enjoyed the process and it did not matter if he was successful at finding the treasure, the thing that mattered most was having fun.  As I listened to this in church today I thought about my art.  I post items on Facebook and in groups hoping that I will get comments or acceptance.  Sitting in that pew this morning I learned a great lesson.  It does not matter if I get approval, it does not matter if no one leaves a comment.  What does matter is this....how do I feel about what I have done?  The picture above Brings a smile to my face.  In fact I LOVE it.  I really do and that is what really matters.

Third and most important, be able to play and get along with everyone.  When what you do in life 
brings joy to you and to others, when you can all play in the same sandbox and get along....your life has been successful and that is my answer on how I want to spend the rest of my life.
I may not sell one painting, I may not paint or draw as beautifully as many of the paintings that I see, I may not even get it right, but as long as I am having fun, that is all that matters. 

So, I thank Bob, for his friendship, the words of wisdom that impressed his son so much that he shared them with us today.  I thank God for the privilege of getting to know Natalie and Bob
But most of all I am thankful that my ears were open to hear the words that spoke to my heart today and made it smile.

I think I am going to frame the picture above, it is calling me and I am going to answer.

Until next time..... 

Week 4 lifebook

image, a photo by momoo50 on Flickr.

I am participating in lifebook again this year.  This is a painting from week 4. Tried a new technique I learned from Donna Downey.  The flowers were originally white.  I painted them with gesso, then saffron yellow acrylic paint and covered with Utee embossing powder.  I really liked working on this page.

Finding My Way

"Many of us feel we cannot draw, even though as children we did."  This quote is taken from a book I just received The Confident Creative by Cat Bennett.  This one sentence says is all for me.  When I was a child, I would spend hours in my room drawing and creating.  I taught myself how to draft a pattern and made clothes for my dolls by hand.  Oh was that fun.  I taught myself to embroider and embroidered baseball themed pillow cases for my brother's room.

I found so much solace in these creative pursuits and for the life of me I cannot remember when it all changed.  I have a feeling it was a gradual progression of inner critic voices telling me that I could not draw, I could not sew,  I could not……  I often sit and think about this and try to figure it out, but nothing comes to me as some great incident other than the fact that I was riddled with strong self-doubt.  I just never felt good enough which is kind of sad because I know that I missed many opportunities because I did not believe in myself.

I have been working on two projects today (pictures to come later).  It took me most of the week to convince myself that I could do them and once I got started, I realized just how much fun I was having and how rewarding it was to at least try.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and is very subjective.  Plus, and this is really big dear reader, if I continue to spend my time worrying about what others will think, I will never get anything done.  I had to ask myself why I am creating, why I am taking online classes and what do I want to feel at the end of the day.  These are very valid questions that have made me dig deep to see just what is it I want to do?  I do not have the answers today, they will be part of my journey through change/release for 2014.  I hope that I will have some sort of answers as the year progresses.

One of the online projects, Journal52, that I am working on this year had us make a simple journal.  On the cover I put the words OPEN UP which is part of my process, open up and let the creative juices really flow.  I find that I can be very closed and rigid.  Each line has to be just right, no coloring outside the line. Have precise guidelines….I realized where this comes from, I was a trainer, project manager, project analyst for nearly 30 years.  My life was project plans, meeting deadlines and keeping everything on track.  There was no time to plan, what with job, raising children and attending college.  Even when I made greetings cards which I love, I drew a project plan for making cards.  So as part of my year of change, I realized I am no longer a project manager.  My life does not have to be so rigid and structured, I can plan and have fun.  I can mix colors that are not supposed to jell.  I can draw a face with wonky eyes and most of all I can just play.

I think I am writing this today to give myself permission…..permission to really enjoy what I do and to open up to new and exciting possibilities.  There is no picture with this post today.  Do not need one.  I just need to listen to my words, embrace them, love them and live them.

So that is it for today dear reader…..I sure to hope that I follow my own advice during 2014.  We shall see.