What to do and how to find the time

I can remember being a young girl and asking my Mom what I could do because I was so bored.  So I would draw or sing or play with dolls. Now in my moments, few and far between, of me time I sometimes find myself with a long list of wonderful things to do but not enough time in between the responsibilities to do them.


I have taken up pottery in the last couple of years and find it very therapeutic. I make silly little creations and have loads to learn but find the feel of the cool smooth clay between my fingers lovely. I enjoy the way the clay molds to your movements and turns into the images you have in your mind. The process is also very healing. You make a piece and then let it dry. Once it is dry enough it is ready to go through the first firing to harden the clay. After this you can add some color by painting on some vibrant underglazes or just dunk it in a bucket of glaze. Another drying and kiln firing and voila, a unique creation to behold or a learning experience.

This process is alot like life and challenges we face. We all go through a process and face the difficult waiting and unfortunate cracks that sometimes appear. We either take our time to make it work or jump right in and figure it out. But no matter what we come through changed and having learned so much about ourselves and others. Another phenomena I have found in the studio that occurs is that the artist is very critical about whatever they are working on and most often will see little flaws that are unobservable to a bystander. We can be our own worst critic. This is not only in our creations but in the big arena of life. What we create comes from deep within us and serves a purpose so every piece is of value whether it ends up on display in a gallery to inspire or lovingly sits on a shelf in a friend's home.




My cousin recently exposed me to a new form of doodle art called "Zentangle". Online it is called the yoga of the mind.  It reminds me of the doodles and squiggles I did on my paper notebooks in high school.  It consists of repetitive patterns and shapes and is quite meditative and free flowing. I have kept an art journal for years and love to get out my markers and play. Just like my coloring book and crayolas of my childhood. One of my great inspirations for art journals has been the author, SARK.   I love her vibrant scribbles that are so full of deep meaning. Anyone can express themselves this way whether they have artistic talent or not. We can all doodle. You just need a pen and paper or nowadays an ipad, hee,hee. I am so old school but I still really enjoy my pens and paper. Sorry trees!!!! 

I love to read and write when I can. I have not written a new blog post in a couple of months so I had to plan ahead to make it happen. I also love to write poetry and find that the words come to me when I am quiet and everyone else is in bed. I am a bit of a night owl that way. I am able to reflect on the moments from the day and the feelings float to the surface to be studied.  I also love to read books. They are such a great tool for learning, exploration, escape and inspiration.  I carry a book in my car or purse for when I am waiting for the kids at school, doctor's offices, or whenever I get a few minutes.  I find reading fiction to be like dreaming with your eyes open. Some people paint with words and make such beautiful statements.  We all have our own story to tell and so much to learn from one another.