Thank you Mom......

Drew's Mom (my Mom) sent me some wonderful tips for finding my muse, for pushing me back into what I love......there are some great ideas/tips here, if you are struggling as I am, maybe they will help you too! Thank you Mom for supporting me and offering up some great tips.....

Implement a time to do art … schedule.
* Show up even if nothing comes right away. When your body shows up, at the same time you have scheduled, eventually your mind — and your muse — will do the same.
* Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself.
In fact, don’t be hard on yourself at all while doing your art. ” Turn the critical brain off. There is a time and place for criticism: it’s called editing.
* Idleness can be a key part of the creative process. Give yourself time to gather new experiences and new ideas, from life, reading, or other forms of art, before you start again.
* Set Deadlines and Keep Them.
* Examine Deep-Seated Issues Behind Your Block.
Write about your anxieties regarding creativity. Talk to a friend, preferably one who does the same kind of art.
* Work on More Than One Project at a Time.
Some find it helpful to switch back and forth from one project to another.
* Try art exercises in your area.
Exercises can loosen up the mind and get you to do you would never do otherwise.
* Remember Why You Started art in the First Place.
* Are you doing what you love or think you should love.  Maybe something new.

On another note.......it's nice to know that I have two readers of my blog! Thank you Mom for the tips and understanding of what I have been going through and thank you Linda for your words of wisdom and support of my art! Linda, you have always been there for me with your kind words......thank you for seeing me as an artist!

On another, other note.....the poinsettia cards are what I have been struggling with and what has started my whole diatribe.....I was over thinking it! I was trying to use a die cut folder for the background and a matching stamp for the main image....I decided that the problem was that I was trying to use an image that I liked but didn't love! A walk through my art room led me to the poinsettia stamp that I DO love! So, this weekend, I'm going to create the cards that are in my head using my favorite poinsettia stamp and I know, I just know.....it's going to be grungy art, my favorite style! Poinsettia doesn't have to be Christmas, right? Good thing since Christmas is long since over!

And on that note....I will leave you with a thought! Who has more than one poinsettia stamp.......

It's a Question I keep Asking Myself.....

The question you ask......."Am I an Artist or Just Playing One"? I want to be, I thought I used to be, but am I still? Or rather, was I ever? Are you confused yet? Well, join the crowd! I am so confused as to whether I am an artist or I just play at being one......Can I beat around the bush anymore than I already have, can I avoid or dance around the answer....am I afraid of the answer?

Here's my thought: I am a woman who can be an artist, not one that draws or paints beautiful pictures or one that sculpts gorgeous statues.....I cannot take gorgeous pictures, I cannot sew, I cannot create beautiful jewelry......but I can, well.....I believe I can create cute cards/tags/ATC's, I believe I can create grunge cards/tags/ATC's, I believe I can create grungy or cute Altered Book Pages/Journals/Canvases.....but is that enough to be called an Artist?

Another question......where did my muse go? Or is it just......where did my talent go. Creating art is such a struggle for me.....I feel guilty when people tell me that I am talented, I feel guilty because I cannot sit down anymore and create art. I stand there and look at all of my art supplies.....I just look at them. Oh, I have a gorgeous art room that sits stagnant because I can't figure out what I want to do. I am in a small art swap that I absolutely struggle getting the cards/ATC's/tags out on time, I am late for December's theme of poinsettias......the supplies and even some of the created elements are sitting on my table just waiting for me to figure out what I should do. So.....where is my muse, where is my talent?

Another question: how do I move on, how do I get interested again? I think I'm over thinking this......I need to do what makes me feel good, right? For instance, I was trying to make the poinsettias pretty (after all, they are poinsettias) but why, why do they have to be pretty? Can't I do grungy poinsettias? Grunge......I love grunge art.......I love smearing black, I love tearing paper, I love sanding anything......so Girls of my Small Art Group........do you mind grungy poinsettias? Do you mind grungy love, masking tape, old locks and keys (that would be perfect for grunge art), owls, garden, woodlands, body parts, southwest, moose, oriental, anything goes...... I think I really need to go back to what I love....right?!

I am rambling.....did I ever answer the original question? Am I an Artist or Just Playing One?

Zentangle, I'm all a gaga over it!

I created some Zentangle cards for the swap with my heartisttradingcards ATC group...I'm totally addicted! I created the cards for the swap and just kept going, I plan on doing the whole alphabet....I can't wait to start! I plan on Zentangling shoes, canvases, journals....my ideas are endless! What about....a bathroom? 
After I finish the "Penny Bathroom", I might do a black & white Zentangle bathroom. I've got to convince the hubby that it's something I should do....oh my.....I'm getting really excited! 

These are the ATC's for my artists friends....I used their first initial as my guide! Oh my, I love these! 

The beginning of my alphabet....okay, they just happen to be my initials as well! This is something I can do every night while relaxing with my hubby! I can carry the supplies with me everywhere and just Zen or is it Tangle? I'll post my cards as I finish them....

I started this last night, I will be finishing this off and sending it to Noelle sometime soon....I can't wait to see what the cover looks like complete! This is going to be gorgeous when it's done! 

How cool will a bathroom be, done in Zentangle? Will Drew let me do it? I just asked him....he said, "It depends on what you have in mind, I guess"! Then he said, "Never mind, you can do whatever you want"! Now....I am taking that as a YES! It will be this Summer sometime but I'm thinking I might just do it! 

 I can't write much....I've got to go Zentangle some more!

Quoth the Raven....Nevermore

 I worked on a most awesome quote layout today! I love, love, love Edgar Allen Poe's; the Raven. It's one of my favorite poems! When I was a kid, I was fascinated by EAP! I love his works!
When sent the journal: More Than Words, I fell in love with the journal. Ursula, as always, blows me away with her art! The cover itself is a work of art...it should be hanging in my art room for me to view everyday. It's beautiful! Anyhow, I was very excited for the theme, it's so fun! But, also so scary as there are just so many quotes, too many to choose from! I ran the gamut, I chose a dozen and for two weeks was going to chose one of them. Then this morning, I woke up at 5:20 (on a Sunday), I decided that since I was up...I pulled stuffs to work on the layout....I had settled on a layout having to do with dancing. But, while I was looking for my favorite female stencil...I found all my raven stencils. Everything changed...I totally lost all desire to do a dance theme and jumped at the EAP, Raven theme. Sorry Ursula, it's dark....but, it's me! I hope you like it!

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore —

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door —

            Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;

And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; – vainly I had sought to borrow

From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Lenore —

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore —

            Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain

Thrilled me – filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating

"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door —

Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door; —

            This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you" – here I opened wide the door; ——

            Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" —

            Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore —

Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—

            'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door —

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door —

            Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,

"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,

Though its answer little meaning – little relevancy bore;

For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being

Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door —

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,

            With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered – not a feather then he fluttered —

Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before —

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."

            Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,

"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store

Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore —

Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore

            Of 'Never – nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;

Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking

Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore —

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore

            Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing

To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;

This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining

On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,

But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,

            She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer

Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.

"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee – by these angels he hath sent thee

Respite – respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;

Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"

            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil! —

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted —

On this home by Horror haunted – tell me truly, I implore —

Is there – is there balm in Gilead? – tell me – tell me, I implore!"

            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! – prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us – by that God we both adore —

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore —

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."

            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting —

"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!

Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!

Leave my loneliness unbroken! – quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"

            Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

            Shall be lifted – nevermore!

—Edgar Allan Poe

Just a little thing

Hey there...so I joined an International Post Card Swap, been receiving some lovely post cards in the mail which is a thrill since mostly the mail is either junk or bills. Still waiting for that one "check is in the mail" from an Ebay buyer but other than that....it's been filled with art! I did create a card myself: My postcard is called, "Soul on Fire" but the others were titled: "The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Beatin'"!

It's a bit of a struggle, working on something so small...but I'm getting there! I use to create Trading Cards, heck, I used to teach Trading Cards....I need to get using to working tiny again as I'm in a new art group, it's called: heARTist Trading Cards, you can check out our blog here: heARTist Trading Cards Stop on by, say Hi! 

Heart of Rock and Roll for the International Post Card Swap

Girlhood was difficult.....

 The layouts above show the paper chain Pippi's across the pages. Below, you will see them folded with "my story" written behind them.

So, I finally completed my layout in "Girlhood"....it was the most difficult journal to work in. It is a wonderful little journal but the theme was difficult for me as I didn't have the most wonderful childhood. In fact, I often try to forget it! Because of this....I struggled to come up with a theme for my layout. I ran through a whole list of things to journal about and just couldn't make it happen! At first, I was going to go "girly" but I so wasn't into girl stuffs when I was a kid....I was most often found outside, as far away from my house that I could get....I loved to hang out at the trains, down by the river, in old oak trees....anywhere but home. I wasn't big into dolls, in fact I thought them creepy and still do, I loved hanging out at the river gathering tadpoles in my hands, chasing down frogs, hanging with the Praying Mantis' and Roly Polys! So, after a huge struggle, I came up with the one icon I loved as a kid....Pippi Longstocking! I loved that she was in a dreamworld, all her own....I was too! I didn't intend on this layout being "dark" but it seems to be the look of my art and my childhood story isn't one that brings sunshine into my life.....

I got to play Girly Girl....

So, I just finished three layouts in "Paper Dresses"....an adorable book that allowed me to be Girly! And yet, I still managed to grunge it up a little! :0) So, can you tell where I was going with my themes? I think I am the only one who understands....I showed it to others and they just see the layouts....I'll let you decide if you can tell what I was doing, where I was going with my themes! Take a look:

This is the first layout, the beginning of the tale...

The second layout....where am I leading you?

Okay....what is the tale? Who gets me?