I Don't Need.....

i don’t need more

things

friends

kudos

followers

comments

likes

recognition

praise

feedback

possessions

equipment

classes

credentials

etc. blah, blah, blah

in order to be happy.

i was thinking about this and had literally just written it out…… when i read the june 23 passage from the book of awakening by mark nepo (obviously i don’t stick to the dates!)

 

“All that is extraordinary in life opens only when we devote ourselves to giving attention, not getting it. The longer we try to get attention instead of giving it, the deeper our unhappiness.  Instead of looking for what is clear and true, we learn to covet what is great and powerful.”

 “fame or peace, be a celebrity or celebrate being, work all our days to be seen or devote ourselves to seeing, build our identity on the attention we can get or find our place in the beauty of things by the attention we can give.”

.i’m not there yet…. but it seems we are on the same page….

as often happens when i am thinking about something, it ends up translating into a journal page (in this case utilizing techniques i learned at the you, me and the sea retreat) and into a lesson for my inside out girls. i told them how sometimes when i'm in a store i just look around and think about all the things i DON'T need.  they took it from there....

 love when that happens!

(looking at the photos on this page, you can get a clue about what i actually DO need!)

Liberating Our Art

there is a lot more art created than what sees the light of day and is actually released out into the world.  that’s the idea behind the liberate your artpostcard swap.  by printing and sharing our images, kat over at kateyestudio has made it possible for our art to reach far and wide across the globe.  

 

 

sadly, i did not think to photograph my own cards before they were sent.  i know they were all pics of mixed media pieces.... so i'm guessing, but pretty sure these were the ones.

 i first received this lovely from jo in Australia. 

next, from heather black, with the walt disney quote: if you can dream it, you can do it.

then, from shawn rowell, the suggestion to "explore"

 a dynamic creation from hula-la

 and from marji thompson, with a lovely message and quote on the back.

finally this beauty from kat herself.   what a wonderful and diverse collection!!  this is seriously a big (and growing!) project.... thanks, kat, for making it all happen and for spreading little bits of art out into the universe!

The Nature of it All

if you’ve been around for a while, you know that i’m not just going to report about the art retreat without sharing the nature which surrounded it and gave the experience such a profound and evocative  atmosphere.

 i love the coast of oregon so much and we would probably live there if we weren’t such weather wimps, spoiled by years of california sunshine.

the skies and views are constantly changing, with the seasons, the time and the tide.  no two beach walks are ever the same.  i was so lucky to be right on the estuary, an amazing and ethereal body of water, home to hundreds of birds.

  definitely got my nature fix!!

definitely got my nature fix!!

Whirlwind

that’s the word that came to me in thinking about my life lately.  it’s all good though.  it’s a happy whirlwind!  i have lots of thoughts and things to share, but i want to start with a little overview of the last few days.

 veeery early on thursday i flew up to portland, rented a car and drove out to the coast to a cute little beach cottage i had rented (vrbo, of course!) totally retro and right on the estuary (and just a wee bit chilly inside!) 

 friday was the beginning of the you, me and the sea retreat with the amazing alisa burke.  it was held in her fabulously colorful studio and there were 14 other eager women ready to create and connect.  happy times! 

the creative focus was mainly sketching and watercolor – totally not my thing, but i wanted to stretch myself… and sketch and stretch i did!   i was also looking for some new ideas for teaching the girls in my inside-out journal class – bingo!!  we spent a whole afternoon sketching on the beach – so totally relaxing and fun.

some of my little creations

 the watercolor techniques were absolutely a blast!  i found that i love doing this – so easy and fun!!  the other women were incredible artists (a few years ago this would have totally intimidated me, but i have learned a lot and was instead inspired by their work!) 

 

the other Patty and her new blue nails

 we also did some beach-combing, made some cool crafty beachy stuff and ended up with a bucket full of goodies – both art supplies and beachy souvenirs. 

 after our sad good-byes (and promises to keep in touch) i hit the road, but ended my trip on a happy note with a visit and hike with my sweet friend elizabeth halt and the opportunity to finally meet her faithful companion, atlas!

 ok, i think that’s enough for today….. all in good time.  thanks for visiting!!