POOHLOSOPHY...ALWAYS THE BEST

 

There's just something about the character of Pooh Bear and his words that somehow always seems to ring true in the very moment of reading.

I can only hope that I never take for granted the birdsong and the ability to listen to it. Such a gift! I remember several years ago having a young lady who was a client who thought that the nearby birdsong at her home was neighbors chatter and it thoroughly annoyed her. Once I had told her it was merely the birds in the bushes and trees she had a completely different take and began to enjoy the sound. I have wondered many times since what exactly it was about neighbors chatter that she found annoying. At the time she was unable to articulate. I hope that to this day she is finding the good in the sound and is grateful for it.

Sunday during the Mixed Media Workshop here several times someone would mention the birdsong in the nearby trees. It is such a gift! As are these workshops for me. To join with a group of convivial creatives for several hours of uninterrupted creative adventure is wonderful. And these talented folks always pull out the stops to make some delightful pieces of artwork.

Oh, yes, I AM grateful!!!!

NEVER ENOUGH

 So many sunflowers! And there can never be enough of them to fill the empty places in our hearts caused by the terrible transgression against the wonderful people of Ukraine.

We strive to find ways to help, but like the sunflowers it seems there can never be enough. Still we must...and we do.

And hope and prayers and ....whatever we can muster to assist these stalwart and desperate people...people not all that different from us.

TRY NEW THINGS

"Old ways won't open new doors."

And that's sure the truth. The image at the right was a totally new way of doing things for me. Why did I try it? What did I think would come of it?

The point is, I guess, that I really had no idea what might show up and yet still went for it. We need to try the new. And sometimes just keep on trying it to get what we might want from it. 

This one was totally playtime in my journal and yet it sparked some desire in me to keep the play going. This was such beginner's luck. Subsequent tries have been all over the map.

Still....

I like to think we should make a habit of trying new things, new ways, new roads, new directions. That's where the living is.
 

LOVE MONTH AND MORE....

 February is traditionally all about love and I LOVE teaching workshops. I could not be happier than I am to have the mixed media playtime workshops happening again on a regular basis...and with some really wonderful folks, returning and new alike. 

So much creative play exists in these five hours. We do wonderful potlucks and just graze as we go amidst the the wonderful and joyful conversations that arise. Life stories and travels and art discoveries and much more are shared as we go about the play of creating.

February's workshop on the 27th has only one spot remaining open at this writing. All are vaccinated and we vote on mask wearing at the very start. If you have an interest in joining a fun group there's that one spot or March and May dates are set as well.

So...play on, MacDuff!

CRAZY CONTROLLED

 It was late last night and I finally just felt I had to give up. Very disappointing, but I wanted to read a bit and then get a good night's sleep so I silenced the phone and picked up my book. 

BUT...I just could not get with the story, my mind too busy focusing on the individual words. I kept trying. And then....

"Knew"--the word just popped out from the page at me and I knew (intended play on words here😉.) The word had to start with "kn." That was all I needed to solve.

I love this puzzle game and am quite happy that the originator sought to keep it from becoming addictive by doing only one per day. It is addictive, but controlled.

Thanks to my daughter Kendall for turning me on to this.

WHIMSICAL PLAY

Sometimes it's all about whimsy in these Mixed Media Playtime work(?)shops. From Picasso to Emerson to Maslow and beyond runs the recognition that play is a necessary attribute of creativity...and life. I adhere to this wholeheartedly and hope you do too.

Play on, MacDuff...and everyone else 😃

AND DON'T ALL THINGS HAVE BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS?

In the midst of my personal "January Clearance"--emptying boxes and bags and crawling around the studio to suss out things hidden, I ordered this book. I have only just begun to read it and am thoroughly impressed by the writing. It is a unique style and might not appeal to all, but I am intrigued.

On the clearance front I've been pretty successful and have a treasure trove of old art work going to the thrift store and a huge pile of empty boxes awaiting the recycling bin. The best part? Letting go makes room for new creative ideas. And in that vein I came across this great quote:  Holding onto something that is good for you now may be the very reason you don't have something better.

Onward with the clearance (with a bunch of breaks for reading.) Oh, and crossing my fingers for omicron heading out to make way for January (full) and February workshops.