Sabbatical-Week One

It's been a week since I turned off the computer and turned back to my art. I have had a roller coaster ride of a week with everything from excitement to terror! More about all of that in a moment.
I've also started journaling...something I haven't done in a dozen years...at least on a semi-regular basis. When I was doing the Artist's Way I was a devout writer but after 9 months it was painful because the OA kicked up in my right wrist the more I journaled.
So here I am with a mini report of my week. I'll only hit the highlights because as important as this sabbatical is to me, I know you have better things to do than read the minutia of my every day life.
5.18.09-I have heard whispers from my true artistic self for years. Now when I need her to shout out loud she seems to have gone off line. At 3 pm, emotionally and physically drained I decided to do something I never allow myself to do except in times of illness...I took a nap!
5.19.09-Lots of ideas spilling out of my head as I awoke this morning. Took notes for future reference and then called up my sister and said...I've got money and a 50% off coupon...let's go to ACmoore. When I got back after noon I dove into the work and about 3/4 of the way in I could feel an artistic tingle. An excitement for what was starting to "BE".
5.20.09-The sky is bright as a blue robin's egg today. I'm sitting in the shade of some mis-grown trees, birds squawking for having their feeding time interrupted. I see a jet gleaming in the sun overhead as it propels its passengers to places unknown. Always, always the sight of a shining silver jet overhead brings me pleasure...I feel the excitement of places I can only dream about.
5.22.09-I have never done art to express my inner feelings and fears. Every piece was done with an eye toward how much money it would bring. After 40 years and limited success I see each failure for what it was. A loss of interest because I was not painting to express my inner feelings.
5.23.09-My daughter asked if I would paint a piece for her home. Make it something that would express what I am always 'preaching' at her. I have never had a family member EVER ask me to paint a piece for them. But my daughter...She gets it!

Sunday night, dinner finished but dishes waiting until I blog the FIRST piece of art for ME.

Fear Kept Her Grounded

Week ahead includes a stress test for DH. But mostly it brings a test of my patience. DD has a roommate moving in and the cats had to move out. One sweet little cupcake, Willie, and one feisty, scratchy brat named Bella have joined my four cats and one Chihuahua. Bella got in a couple of good scratches and has yet to appear from out of my craft closet but Willie has settled in. What's not to love about this little cupcake!

Willie
Wishing you all a creative week. Until next Sunday...Blessings from Carolyn, a Jersey Girl

Spring FUN!

I got my weekly mailing from PCcrafter.com. This week's was all about Spring and I must say that after the recent blizzard here in Jersey it was as welcome as the first crocus bloom.
I used to subscribe and purchase their digital downloads until it occurred to me that I might be overly influenced by the artwork of their featured artists. After all I am an artist myself and although I LOVE being inspired I don't want to cross over into the copyright infringement arena. Now every week I visit the site and just enjoy the truly beautiful artwork of hundreds of talented woman like myself. Perhaps someday I might even aspire to sell my work to commercial site like PC's but for now I enjoy my sales on eBay and Etsy and every day find the pleasure that comes from being given the gift of creativity.
You can get a taste of Spring for yourself. I've linked the title of the blog post directly to their site so surf on over and enjoy the warmer weather they're showing.

Rental Jersey Shore

Here's the latest on the home front. Sis is back home and is back to being the Designated Daughter. It's so hard on her but without a car it's difficult for me to give her any time off. I need to be dropped off at Mom's house so I can use her car to drive her around. Between keeping bread on the table with my art and finding new ways to get about in this new economy I don't have a lot of free time. Not to say that my sister does either but TG she's willing to do more than her part with Mom.

DD, this time Dear Daughter, is so excited about her scores on the civil service test. She scored a 90 or an 89.862 and I told her to round up to the nearest whole number to which her reply was...I really don't want to lie...did I do a good job or what? Anyway, she's networked with a lot of her friends and one of them is a cop at Fort Monmouth, a government facility scheduled for closure in 2011 (to save us money and it's costing millions to close it down!!, your government dollars at work!!) but they're still hiring civilian cops as well as forensic detectives and her dream since high school has been to work in forensics. Yes, my dear friends, my DD would like to be "Bones" of Fox network fame. She did a mentorship for a year with the Monmouth County prosecutor's office and going out for pizza after a particularly grizzly and gruesome scene is apparently not stomach turning for her. As an artist all I can say is icky, icky ach!!!
As a traditionalist I would prefer that she date her friend's best friend...A 30 something Irishman who drives a rolls royce and lives in a community that has "Estates" as part of its title. I don't think she's opposed to the idea but after her heartbreaking relationship with 'the only man I ever loved' she's not willing to date anyone seriously. My DH is opposed to anyone she dates as well but as I told him, if Jesus himself were to come knocking, DH would say "he's only a carpenter"!

Anyway we'll see where that leads but at the moment she's on the hunt for a roommate, preferably a male who enjoys decorating and shopping as much as she does. She can't keep up with the rent and if she doesn't get caught up, the eviction notice goes out on 12.31.08 and then she'll be homeless. So if you know anyone who lives in the Jersey Shore area and is looking to share an 8 room house for $700 a month, you've got my number :)

On the crafting front, I spent all yesterday working on my petite fours and I think I've almost got it. I've figured out how to make them look really edible...finally..
I'll post later today if I finish them up. The blogging has been rather long today but I always do this when I'm putting off doing something that I know is going to be labor intensive. But it's almost noon EDT and since I slept the night through I really do need to use this energy for something other than catching y'all up on my life.

Off to play with the faux food, folks. Hugs to all of you for a creative day. I'll twitter this posting so you can catch up. Remember, too that I'd like to get a creative swap of craft supplies going so check my ultimate recycle post below.