Sunday, November 30, 2008

Crossing the Finish Line

I crossed the finish line around 8 pm last night. The story is not finished but I made the words which is what counts. I am not sure if I will work on editing it or not. I need time to absorb the experience and really see if it has enough good stuff to warrant further work on it. I have spent the morning cleaning the house. Its always needs a major overall from neglect in November.

I have the computer moved out of the Art room so now I can do art there and writing at my desk upstairs. My plans for December are to do some weaving. I'll need to clean out that room next. It so easy for me to let things slip by when I have so many interests. Priorities are something I have trouble following through on. Hopefully this December will be better. I spent October doing the Big Draw and then November doing Nanowrimo, I sort of wish Christmas was in January so I could have a month to do nothing. Life doesn't seem to work that way though.

Sometimes after intense experiences I find that I have difficulty getting back to normal again. Shouldn't I be stressing about my word count right now. Oj its back to cleaning. I am trying to look at housework as a spiritual activity. Maybe cleaning your house on Sunday can be considered Sacred. I'm off to vacuum...

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Goddess Quiz

I am taking the Goddess Art class so of course a quiz is in order.

Your result for The Mythological Goddess Test...

Isis

Indeed, you are 83% erudite, 71% sensual, 50% martial, and 50% saturnine.


This Egyptian supreme Goddess is certainly the most influential deity on subsequent cultures. She was the ideal figure of womanhood, usually compared with the Greek Goddess Demeter or her Roman version, Ceres.


Isis was one element of a Holy Trinity, the remaining two figures being her brother and husband Osiris and their heroic son Horus. She was the Goddess of Magic for her brilliance, as well as the Goddess of Love because of her tenacious devotion.


She is often shown with wings, curving to caress coffins and sarcophagi of many a king. In certain papyri she is shown with her falcon wing headdress, covering her ears. One of her sacred symbols is the sistrum, a musical instrument that was believed to ward off evil spirits. Isis' sistrum was carved bearing the image of a cat and was representative of the Moon.


Isis was the High Priestess and an omnipotent magician as well as the only being ever to discover the secret name of Ra. She invariably carries the ankh, the symbol for eternal life. Her name is, by the rules of numerology, adding up to the number “2” and she just so happens to be depicted on the tarot card “Key 2 – The High Priestess”.


The Fifteen Goddesses


These are the 15 categories of this test. If you score above average in …


…all or none of the four variables: Neit. …
Erudite: Minerva. …
Sensual: Aphrodite. …
Martial: Artemis. …
Saturnine: Persephone. …

Erudite & Sensual: Isis. …
Erudite & Martial: Sekhmet. …
Erudite & Saturnine: Nemesis. …
Sensual & Martial: Hera. …
Sensual & Saturnine: Bast. …
Martial & Saturnine: Ilamatecuhtli. …

Erudite, Sensual & Martial: Maeve. …
Erudite, Sensual & Saturnine: Freya. …
Erudite, Martial & Saturnine: Sedna. …
Sensual, Martial & Saturnine: Macha.


Take The Mythological Goddess Test
at HelloQuizzy

Treating Yourself















In all the hubub of black friday I came home with a gift for me. Its called the Bind it All by Zutter and it makes spiral bound books of many sizes. I can't wait for some time when I can play with it. I always like to buy myself something for Christmas. Sometimes the presents are big and sometimes small but a gift for yourself is important I think. This one I got with a 40% off coupon so it was a price not to be beat and I want to make my own books so this was a perfect match.

Nanowrimo word count is 49427 so I have a little over 500 words and I will be done. I should be able to do that tonight. Its been a hard month and I am ready to get my life back again. I have one more commitment and that is the Victory party next week. We'll meet at a restaurant for lunch and celebrate all those words. The group I facilitate wrote over a million words in November. So far we have 3 winners I know of and there will be many more in the next 28 hours that are left. Its been a great group to work with but I am ready to take off the ML hat and just read or do Art or go to the movies.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Coming up for air

I tried to post all about my trip to Craters of the Moon but blogger is not being helpful today so I let it slide. Thought I should check in though. Only 10,000 more words to write. I will be happy when Nano is over on Sunday. Its been hard this year.

I have a few online classes I am taking. Right now it Les Petite Dolls with SuziBlu. and its been fun. I am working at my first try but its not ready to post yet. I signed up for her be Divine Class in December its on Goddess Art and I think it will be fantastic. Her classes are really reasonably priced and so much fun. Check them out here

I can't really afford any of the big art retreats so online classes seem to be the way to go for me. I have an altered journal class coming up with Sarah Whitmire of Soul Journaling fame. I think that will be fun too. I'll be posting pics as soon as I have something to show.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mail Art Contest Winner














Mahala was the lucky winner of my mail art contest. Above you'll see the package I sent her. It's a combination of painting and collage and stamping. I really had fun making it. I did not take pics of the insides. She got an issue of Art & Life, A beaded necklace kit and miscellaneous papers and napkins for collage.

Something to share

Here is another gem from Christine Kane

Who Do You Think You Are?

You've heard it.
I've heard it.
We can even laugh about it because it's so common.

I'm talking about the snarky voice in your head that mouths off whenever you think about being a little bolder, or a little decadent, or more self-nurturing.
It's the voice that says, "Who do you think you are?"
I'm embarrassed to admit this, but mine shows up as a group of high school girls.

Their eyes are lined with thick black pencil. They wear concert t-shirts. Their hair is burnt from too many home perms. One of them steps forward and says, with her hands on her hips, "Who do you think you are?" And then she turns to the others and says, "Who does she think she is?" Then they all take an aggressive step forward. (Welcome to an average day at my old high school!)

My friend Joy told me that "Who do you think you are?" jumps in whenever she imagines hanging out on the sofa reading magazines.

A few years ago, I saw Oprah speak. She said that every time she wanted to achieve more, the first voice she heard was "Who do you think you are?"

Every woman I know has her own version of this voice waiting in the wings.

In other words: Stay down, play small, shut up, and don't embarrass yourself. Don't even bother because you won't make it, you don't deserve it, and everyone knows it, and they'll all laugh at you when you fail.

So, next time that voice jumps up in your head, here's what you do:

Answer it.

Really. Who do you think you are?

-------------

One time, I was telling a mentor about some fears coming up around a choice I was making.
I said, "...and all the voices in my head are saying, 'Who do you think you are?'"
And he looked at me and said, "Well? Who do you think you are?"

I smiled and continued with my story.
He cut in.
"No. Stop. I really want to know. Who do you think you are? Tell me right now."
In a very tiny voice, I told him.
Then he made me say it again in a bigger, stronger voice. And again after that.
He said, "There. Now you have an answer for your voices."
Now I do this exercise every time those voices arise.

Here's a tip:

When you answer that question, use language that speaks the truth of your strengths and values
In other words, make it authentic.
It's tempting to recite something that sounds "lofty" or "holy." I know you know what I mean. "I am a divine being, living in divine perfection with power and grace..and blah blah blah...abundance and light."

Okay, fine.

True as that may be, if that language doesn't resonate with you, you'll never feel any bolder, and those high school girls with the black eye pencil will put their cigarettes out on your shoe.

The Co-op of Lack
My theory is that "Who do you think you are?" is actually a Co-op.
It's a collective body of voices saying, "Agree with us in the lack that we see! Agree with us that there are no other options! Agree with us that no one has any power over life conditions!"
It's actually pretty convenient.
It's convenient to have this world-view because it gives you permission to stay stuck. It never requires that you do anything about it because after all, you're dealing with a whole world-view!

Think about it.

When you say, "I no longer want to work with this abusive client," you're also saying, "AND, I believe there are multitudes of others out there for me."
When you say, "I'm gonna nap right now, and I will be more productive and happier because of it," you're also saying, "AND, I believe that there's more than enough time for me to get my to-do's done."
Get it?
Essentially, you're telling the Co-op that you've decided to create a whole new world-view!

Extra Credit Bonus Tip

Let's be honest.

Most likely there are occasions when you've been the one saying, "Who does she think she is?" (Even if it's only in your head.)
Don't be ashamed. It simply means that you have more opportunities to shift those old lack mindsets. Usually those mindsets are saying: "I'm feeling small and poor, so she should be small and poor too." We've all caught ourselves doing this.
Even if it's uncomfortable, you can choose to bless or praise anyone who seems to be taking bigger strides in her life. Then remind yourself again who you think you are, and join her!


Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Its my Blogiversary

Well I think it is. I really started on blogger in 2002 but rarely posted so I don't count that. I had the 17th stuck in my head as where I started to seriously blog over at Tripod but they tell me it was the 16th. Anyways I am going to say its the 17th since I like the number better and I am in charge so I can do what I want. So I am starting into my fifth year of blogging so I am going to give away this kit.


















It is a beaded medicine bag that you can make, it includes beads, thread, needles and instruction booklet. I used to sell these kits when I had a booth at fairs. Its very easy to make and I know the winners will have fun. Yes multiple winners. How about 4 of you, one for each year I have blogged. Hmm how to pick the winners, I guess I will just randomly pick 4 numbers. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post, tell me what you like about my blog.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sacred Life Sunday - Finding time for Art


















I never really know what to do for Sacred Life Sunday posts so I don't do that many. This week I have been missing doing art, so I finally took the time. I guess that I made it sacred for me. I worked so long on this page I thought maybe I should go back to using canvasses for faces. At least at that point I could have something that I could hang on the wall and look at. When its in a journal its all closed up. It not that the effort is not valuable in its own right but it just takes me so long. Perhaps when I get better at mixing colors and painting in general I will be able to do a journal page quickly. The words in the piece are "Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly"

Now its back to writing, I am past the half way point. Today is day 16 and I have made the 25,000 word goal yesterday. Now its on to the second half. Although doing Nanowrimo is fun and rewarding and all that jazz it is pretty intense. I am looking forward to a relaxing December.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

A giveaway you might like

I just discovered Debra at A little Imagination and a pile of Junk. She has a lovely blog and has a beautiful journal she is giving away. So head on over if journals are your thing.

She also has some great tutorials on her sidebar. I love it when I can find a fun blog by accident. There are so many talented people out there. I know I can't see them all and it is sure fun finding someone new who does the things you like to do.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Checking In














Yesterday I caught some bug and was down and out for the day. Today Dave and I went to Craters of the Moon National Monument. It about 90 miles from here. I am using a similar lava field for a location in my novel so this was a research trip. I have lots of pictures and stories to tell but that will have to come later as I need to write. Just felt the need to check in. I hope you are all having a great week.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Had to share

My friend Judi sent me this video this morning. Talk about inspiring, I had to share.

New art journal pages

I finally caught up to my word count. Its taken me a week to do so, but it feels good. I have writer 16,680 words so far.















Here are some journal pages recently finished.

















Here is another page on change, that is some of my paste paper on the right.












I have been trying to finish up a moleskine and here I even did the inside covers.

The found poetry says
My soul
what treasure
do you hear
with imagination

I enjoyed working on these pages, I used an old set of oil pastels, not the water soluble ones. I can blend them easily, they were fun to work with. I thought of putting something in the window but then thought its like you look into the window to see whats inside. The whole book becomes the inside.












I had to do an election page since I was so much a part of things. I collected images from the net and added some journaling on my experiences. So much hope now it needed to be recorded somehow. Do you believe I forgot to buy a paper on Wednesday.

I have a lot of golden paint and the one thing I run into is having a color in the heavy bodies line. Decided I wanted some Cerulean Blue Deep in the heavy body version. Michaels wanted 16.99 for a 2 oz tube. Yikes.. even with my 50% off coupon it was 8.50. I hope I now paint some masterpiece with it. I wonder what is so special about this color that it costs more than the others. I guess I will never know.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Purple phone


















Here is the phone Janet, its a Motorola that I got at Verizon.

A funny little little manifesting story about this. I was at a write in on Thursady and one of the writers had this phone and I thought how cool I'd like a purple phone next time. Now on Friday night I am writing on the couch, we have 12 couches a 2 seater and a 3 seater that are right next to each other. I am in the 2 seater and I have a glass of Pepsi just on the cusion of the 3 seater. My phone is sitting on the arm of the couch and I somehow knock it over and yes, it lands in the glass of Pepsi. I cleaned it out and store it in rice to draw the moisture out. I turn it on Sat morning and low and behold it comes on but a little glitch it keeps searching for service indefinetly.

So I head out to Verizon and of course the phone is not fixable. So here I get the phone I was thinking about less than 2 full days ago. I had been told we'd be able to manifest quicker but this was amazing to me.

Dave still thinks he can fix the old phone but that may take several days and not work. We have no land line so I really needed a phone now. He has soaked the phone in water to get the stickieness of the Pepsi out of it and then is doing the rice thing. We'll see, if he fixes it he will have a phone when his dies. Meanwhile I have a purple phone and for those of us who like purple thats a good thing.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

There's a Hippie Bus in town













I was driving down the road and saw this.













Its the Psychedelic bagel bus. click on pictures to get a closer look.













I love the painting they did on the bus. Its a little place to get bagels.













You can't help but smile and laugh at all the memories it evokes. Good Bagels too! Our only real bagel shop went out of business a few years ago so the is great to see.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Oh What a night

















Our next president, oh what a night last night was. I have never been more proud to be an American as I was last night. I went to a Election night party with 8 friends. We ate pizza, drank wine and cheered as the results came rolling in. What a historic night for our country, we the people can actually take it back and make it what it is supposed to be.

A I watched the panning of the crowd in Chicago and saw both Oprah and Jesse Jackson crying I thought as excited and thrilled by the outcome as I was, there is no way for me to understand how this must feel to African Americans. What a day it has been for them.

I was very impressed with John Mc Cains concession speech, he conceded graciously and with great honor. Of course I was inspired once more listening to Barack acceptance speech. It was a delight to see our new first family on the stage and fun to know that one of the first things the girls will get is a new puppy. That just seemed so much like a normal family.

Last night it seemed so much like a pivotal moment in our nations history. I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when we elected Barack Obama. Today the world just feels a little bit different, more alive somehow, I feel more hope than I every have in my life.

Creativity by Kristine Kane

There is so much to blog about today. I will have several posts to break things up. I got this in my mail today and it was so awesome that I wanted to share. Christine says many of the things that I believe about creativity.

My #1 Favorite "No-Big-Deal" Creativity Tip

Notes Creativity isn't a big deal.

It's like our breath. It's just a part of who we are.

Everyone knows this truth, but most people pretend that Creativity (with a capital C) is something special.

People who say, "Oh, I'm not Creative," or "I don't have a Creative bone in my body," sound like they're trying to convince themselves of something, rather than telling themselves the truth.

They make Creativity a BIG DEAL because, by doing so, they keep it safely out of reach. It then requires nothing of them, except to occasionally utter the phrase, "Oh, I'm not Creative!"

These people are often a little disappointed when I teach them what they pretend they don't already know:

· Creativity isn't a big deal.

· Creativity is not an event.

· Creativity doesn't so much happen, as it is allowed.

This is boring. It's unimpressive. And it's also why so few people Live Creative. It requires presence and practice and allowing. And really, these aren't very exciting things. (Unless you've experienced them! Then you know they are!)

Canine Creativity Class

When I found my dog, she'd been badly abused. I was walking on a gravel road, and she was watching me from a mound of dirt in an old churchyard where she'd been dumped.

She started to follow me.

Each time I turned around, she'd stop dead in her tracks.

When I tried to walk towards her, she'd tuck her tail under her butt and slink away from me.

But when I just continued along my way, she followed me. She eventually got closer and closer. Ultimately she followed me home.

This is how I experience Creativity.

If I try to turn around and catch it, it turns away. Living Creative is not about willing it or grabbing it. In fact, Creativity rarely takes to announcements like, "Today I'm gonna be Creative! I'm gonna write a novel!"

It's a process. It's a way of being. And though it can't be forced, it can be cultivated and allowed. It thrives when you're already open, and your mind is receptive and quiet. There's almost a joyful laziness to it.

So, in the spirit of making Creativity a No-Big-Deal part of our lives, here is my #1 favorite no-big-deal Creativity Tip...

Christine's Favorite Creativity Tip: Carry a Tiny Spiral Notebook

Get some tiny spiral notebooks.

Carry one in your car. Carry one in your purse. Bring one along in your back pocket. Keep one next to your bed.

Songwriters call them Hook Books. It's a place to write down lyric ideas, especially the "hooky" song titles.

But you don't have to be a songwriter - or even a writer - to use this tool. Here's why:

We all have great ideas. We all hear funny comments worth remembering. We all notice breath-taking moments.

When we actually take the time to jot them down in our tiny notebooks, then we're honoring these ideas and these moments. We are essentially telling our subconscious mind that our creativity matters enough to take action on it. And we're letting it know that it's no big deal. Our subconscious mind gets the message, and begins its work of noticing new things and generating new ideas.

When we keep a tiny notebook, we are training our minds to Attract Ideas. Each time we put an idea or a moment on paper, it's like shouting "Yes!" to our Creativity.

It doesn't matter if we DO anything with the note or the hook or the idea. It's easy for your logical brain to step in and say "Yea but will it pay the bills? Will it lead to a novel?" (In other words, will it be a BIG DEAL?)

Maybe.

But there are some definite things that this practice will do:

· It will teach you how to be an "Idea Magnet."

· It will show you that there are many solutions inside of you.

· It will train you to recognize what delights you and brings you deep joy.

· It will build your relationship to your Creative Self.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this tip. Over time, you'll begin to feel the profound effects it has on your life.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Its Time To Go












Sharon over at All Norah's Art had a challenge over the weekend and I decided to take it on.


















I think you are supposed to start and finish during the weekend but it always takes me longer to do things. I learned a lot with this page. I tried out the new Golden Open Acrylics and oh are they nice. They are much creamier and stay wet on your palette a lot longer. In this page I ended up using the Open and Fluid acrylics, colored pencil,and stamps. I really hated the background at first but now I think its ok.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Painting Rocks
















I saw these on the Dancing Mermaid site and then on Kim's too. Plus Olivia is doing a video series on how she gives hers away. I thought I would try my hand at them. Not all of these have their coat of modge podge on top yet. One thing is its amazing how long it takes to cover some rocks. I have several coats of red over one rock and its still not done. I had to switch to real paint cause the craft paint really is transparent in the red shades. FolkArt has some metallic paints that I have never seen before and I just love the colors.

I think McCabe's look better since her handwriting is awesome but I think all you need is the sentiment and they work. I plan on giving mine away at Christmas time and then may even leave some around town. I think it would be fun to have someone find just the word or phrase they needed to hear that day.

Please Vote for someone in my Mail Art contest. I think I have a tie right now so I need some more input. Please see the previous post and comment there. Thanks.