Driving Through the Doubt Storm

Through the work of the magnificent Sas Pethrick, I received a huge aha about myself recently. I took her quiz on my self-doubt archetype and, BAM, I was exposed. I do have a tough time believing I can do the hard things. I do believe I need someone’s help for everything or it’s impossible. And I know that I am very vulnerable to any criticism. I do procrastinate to avoid proving how unqualified I am at being an adult. She said I was an Innocent archetype. And she was spot on. While I am optimistic, loyal, and spontaneous, I struggle with self-doubt and self-belief.

Although I have begun to heal some of this behavior (I no longer time-debt and have begun proving I can do hard things, see the Wholehearted Living story I wrote for Terri Connelan’s Quiet Writing blog), I can feel the oppressive shadow of doubt looming. A constant companion that no longer serves. So, two days ago I set myself to creating vignette pictures for a blog site revamp that’s held me hostage for years.

As I stood there looking down at all these little pieces of flowers and whatnots and began to arrange them and take pictures, the chatter began. Negative comments about how the light wasn’t right or how I wasn’t sure if this was how I needed to do it “right”. And I made myself stand there and continue to work through those mean nuisances that were my thoughts. Kept standing and kept rearranging and kept taking pictures. Until I was done. And I felt better. My resistance was futile as I drove through it.

The next day, I sat at the computer and I began to edit and upload the pictures. And I felt better as I did this because I saw how pretty my pictures were. I did a good job of doing the work and driving through the wreck that was my self-doubt storm. Every time I do the hard things, I kindle a spark of trust inside for my reliability and my ability. And that feels like pride. Stay tune for the results of a long long road to my self-recovery.

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter or Pinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

The End of My Icad (index Card a Day) ’18 Challenge

All the daily creativity came to a screeching halt nearly a week ago with the last day of July and the 61^st card. With the combined 100 day project and this one, I had created every day for 118 days straight. I felt neither overly happy nor sad for the halt. I had fulfilled my challenge to myself. But I must admit that I have felt slightly untethered since then. A feeling that was echoed by at least one other artist who had done the challenge with me.

Day #1 through Day #22 of the ICAD ’18 Challenge

Day #23 through #42 of the ICAD ’18 Challenge

Day #43 through Day #61 of the ICAD ’18 Challenge

I considered that I could and should replace that daily habit with some other intention. But that was swallowed up in a flurry of Summer activities which were all good. But I am also asking this of myself, why does it take an outside “force” to get me to commit to the art. What about being obliged to myself? Or perhaps, what do I create in my life that makes me accountable to regular artwork?

Our creative needs are ours to fulfill. And if it requires a little trickery on our parts to get ourselves to creatively comply, so be it. Any challenge is good even if that means creating your own like I did in June for the Our Creative June Challenge, well then let’s do it again together. I live for a creative community and I think everyone deserves to have one of their own.

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter orPinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

The 100 Day Project: Days 55 through 75

Back in April I started something I had previously believed was impossible for me. I began a 100 Day Challenge. I am doing a sketch a day with pencil and pastels on a 4 x 6 card. I am using everyday objects as an homage to the ordinary everyday experience that we all have in common. And I’m actually on day 76!

I knew I could do this challenge based on my previous Summer’s completion of the ICAD (index card a day) challenge which is two months long. And in fact, I decided to go ahead and do the ICAD challenge this year in addition to the 100 Day Challenge because it’s giving me a different medium to play with too. And just for good measure, I am hosting an Our Creative June #OurCreativeJune creativity challenge on Instagram for anyone who wanted to do something for only 30 days. I was already there!

”The creation of something new is not accomplished

by the intellect but by the play instinct.”– Carl Jung–

I am sincerely grateful for all the enthusiastic creatives who turned me on to the concept of daily creation. Partly because it allowed me to regain trust with my inner creative 6-year-old. But I now truly appreciate the superpower that authentic creativity is. And having a supportive community to nurture this scary process is tantamount to your success.

On her blog Daisy Yellow, the host of the ICAD challenge Tammy had this to say about the feelings that come up within one of these long creative challenges in her recent post on 12 tips for success in an index-card-a-day challenge:

“After the first 2 weeks there’s a very good chance that you’ll hit a plateau where you really have to push to stay on track. That’s the most difficult part!!! It takes time to get into the groove. But suddenly there will be a break-through and you will feel like it’s second nature to create something each day. That’s the goal, my friends, to incorporate a positive creative habit into your daily life.”

I have begun to truly understand my chosen medium of pencil and chalk aka pastels. I’d even say I’m developing confidence. And the collection of objects will make a truly interesting display once it’s completed my 100^th day. I hope any and all of this has inspired you to dabble in something creative. And perhaps there’ll come a day when you as well can join in and see where it takes you. But meanwhile, thank you for cheering me on !

Want to see the previous posts on this project?

For The 100 Day Project, Day 34 through 54 go here !

For The 100 Day Project, Day 14 through 33 go here !

For the first two weeks of my 100 Day Project 2018, go here ! 

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter orPinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

Redecorating Junkie

I feel “off” if I don’t try to redecorate my mantel spaces, bar top, and/or shelves every so often. I’m especially compelled to make a total difference redecorating for Summer and for Winter. It’s a “Thing”.

This year, I happily entertained the achievement of some of this activity both for Halloween here and now for Fall. So before it gets too late and you need Christmas decorations, I thought I’d show you what my redecorating efforts got me.

I was feeling the copper, white, and wood combination. And yes, I have a lot of props to play with. I made the effort over several different days. Because, like writing, sometimes you have to fill the space up with something, even if it’s the wrong something, until you can come back and edit.

And since it’s all for me, I can allow it to come and play and touch and tweak until I’m happy. Hope everyone has a chance to play this holiday season with something. Whether it’s a tree of wrapping presents or their mantelpiece or cookies, I feel adamant that the spirit of the holiday is about creativity. May you be grabbed by your muse and twirled around the block a couple of times.

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter orPinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

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Ravens and Crows

Ravens and their close cousins the crows always seem to make their appearance around now. Black figures circling overhead. I not only see them lurking about in flocks but I hear them in the trees making their specific noises. Some just a cawing while the Fish Crow saws “uh huh” “uh huh”. Audio for their calls can be found to the right of the descriptions on this All about birds site.

Ravens and crows were fellow blogger and artist Marissa’s inspiration for an artful mail piece she was making. Her Post here got me thinking as she had about the crows and ravens in mythology and lore. And I fell down the same rabbit, or raven, hole.

“I went through a bit of exploration and research and managed to develop quite a fascination with ravens, sifting through poems such as Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven‘, folklore, fairy-tales, fables–almost picked Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher–so it isn’t too surprising that I went with this pair in the end … In Norse mythology, Huginn (from Old Norse “thought”) and Muninn (Old Norse “memory” or “mind”) are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world of Midgard, and bring information and news back to the god Odin. Flying messengers. Perfect.” – – From Marissa’s Floating Lemons Blog –

So here’s all the fun pictures and artwork from Pinterest with the Raven and Crow theme that I found intriguing.

Crow Country by Sarah Jarrod

Raven by Audrey Niffenegger, the author of the Time Traveler’s Wife

Beards and Ravens!!!!

Fine Art Prints by Carolyn Doe

The Naga, the Sun, and the Crow (based on a tale from Burma)

Unsure what this is but I really really like it.

Entitled A Feast For Crows, the pinner had this to say underneath.

“I blinked in dismay as her hair… or should I say crows, as they flew from her head. So I hadn’t been going bonkers, her hair was made of sleek feathers.”

Prey by Peter James Field

Koseatra seems to be a Polish corset maker.

Bird and flower by Unity Coombs

Hitchcock and a raven

Poe book art

Graffiti street art

An Irish expression, “You‘ll follow the Crows for it” meant that a person would miss something after it was gone.

Yearn For Words by artist Jonelle Johnson Yearn

What fun this was. Hope you enjoyed it too. More Pinterest madness for the Halloween Holiday fun to come.

(Originally published Oct 29, 2014 I’m republishing…because it’s cool and I can)

And If you enjoyed what you read, subscribe, via the subscription box in the sidebar, to my thrice weekly posts via your emailbox. And visit me on Instagram to see my daily pictures, friend me or like my page on Facebook. Or come find me on Twitter orPinterest too. I am always practicing Intentional Intouchness so chat at me please. I live for conversations.

And, as always, Thanks to you for your visit.

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