Divine Inspiration...

"Lou, the Singing Dog"
30"x40"
Oil on Canvas

I've been meaning to post a photo of some of the work that I've been swallowed by. For now, I offer you "Lou, the Singing Dog." It's different and perhaps better than anything I've ever painted before. I've finished 4 more large paintings since this one and will complete a 5th (and perhaps a 6th!) today. I try not to think about how much more I have to do. I've never had to sustain a feeling of "staying in the moment" for such a long period of time. I'll tell you, it is a discipline. Preparing for this show feels strangely spiritual. I have always felt deep emotions when I paint dogs, but this is different. This is something that exists beyond me. It's not about me, it's not even exactly about the dogs I'm painting. It's about how we experience the world. It's about being alive to the smallest moments, those nanoseconds that contain something of the entire universe.

"First Month"
20"x48"
Oil on Canvas

This particular time in my life feels immensely strange to me. Strange, that is, in a (generally) good way. Difficult too, but good. Maybe it is the long hours that I've been putting in, day after day, but this work feels a bit out-of-body.

Last night I also applied to two major art fairs. And right now I need to make a pot of coffee and head back down into the studio. I'm working on another big one. There are so many large paintings! I can't complain though. Painting big is what I love best.

I'm sending love to you, my blogging sisters. Although I'm unable to blog much right now, I am thinking about you with my whole heart!

with love,
jessie

~

a little pause...

Well, my friends, it's true. I have to put my "WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time" project on temporary pause. I want to continue posting words, but as I prepare for the show, the biggest one that I have ever done, I simply just can't do it all. Taking photos, cropping, uploading, listing, and writing a post...yeah, it all takes time that I just don't have right now.

I will say, however, that even when I haven't posted a word, I have gotten in the habit of choosing a word each morning and really, really living with it inside of me. This project started out as a fun way to boost Etsy sales and get me back into blogging. I had no, absolutely no idea how integral it would become to my existence. I have lived and breathed every word I've posted and each word has helped me to move through my days just a little bit more gracefully.

So here's the thing...I hang my show on March 3rd. The opening is March 12th. I have a feeling that I am going to be in over my head until the very end. I am OK with this. I mean, I've been working 12-16 hour days in my studio at home and, in some strange way, am loving it. I don't know if it's my imagination, but my hands feel swollen from holding paintbrushes for so many hours straight. How's that for weird?

What I need more than anything right now is to just lose myself in this project. At the moment I am working simultaneously on 2 paintings. One is of a new mama asleep on her couch holding her sleeping newborn infant and her little pug perched in the bend of her legs, keeping watch over them. It is made up of deep colors and the purest forms of love. When put on its side, the painting is almost as tall as me. I'm also working on another large-scale painting of a musician and his singing dog, Lou. It is made up of moodiness and color and and howls that make me want to stretch my neck and face towards the sky. Then there's the stack of 20-some canvases stacked behind me still waiting to be filled with love and personality. I breathe because the only way to get this work done is to do it. I breathe and I ask myself: what do I need to get through this time? The answer is the same every day. I need to strip my life of everything that isn't absolutely necessary and just paint.

Between now and March 12th, please send me some creative and loving vibes. I'll be stopping by this space as time allows or when I need to feel like I'm actually connected to this world. I will be thinking about all my wonderful blogging friends and feeling grateful for your existence in my life.

Speaking of love and gratitude and connection...you must go visit Connie at Dirty Footprints Studio. Several weeks ago Connie started a radio show. Let me just say for the record that I am addicted to it. There is so much creativity in the air! I am very proud to be one of this week's sponsors. Connie and her guests keep me company in my studio while I paint. Their discussions are interesting and honest and I always feel like I've just sat down for a cup of coffee with a couple of really good artist friends. Seriously, her show keeps me feeling grounded.

Check out other Dirty Footprints Studio Talk sponsors via video...

Enjoy. Be inspired. Connect.

The word of the day project will be returning as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are plenty of words to choose from, but even better, I invite you to build the words that will most serve you. Let me know what word is whispering to your heart and I will be happy to make a reserved listing especially for you.

Wish me luck as I prepare for my upcoming exhibition: Dogs of Linden Hills.
And Happy Friday the 13th! :)

Namaste,
Jessie

*Beautiful paint brush image borrowed from ...and protest.

~

QUEEN--5 little letters to celebrate your inner diva

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Meet Top Model Dog, Trixie...

Italian Greyhound extraordinaire
and (dare I say?)
QUEEN of Florida!

She is my most recent painting....the one that I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning putting the finishing touches on. She possesses more bling than I have ever known. Oh, but those jewels, that wink, and posture!

In honor of Trixie's portrait I dedicate today to celebrating the diva that lives inside each of us. I hereby announce you: DIVINE!

Trixie knows her inner Queen.
Do you?

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail.
Failure is another steppingstone to greatness." ~Oprah


These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is QUEEN. Rule your own destiny.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

DON'T PANIC--9 little letters to help you keep your cool

Today is brought to you by two very important words:

DON'T PANIC.

"Don’t panic, especially when things get bad. Remain focused. React to danger sooner, not later. Don’t listen to rumors, just deal with what you know. Stay indoors, stay informed and don’t leave unless you have to...Fighting will draw attention and slow you down, so don’t do it. Don’t panic, keep moving, drink lots of water and avoid people." ~Popular Mechanic Reader

My apologies for the sporadic "Word of the Day" posts. I was about to force myself into temporarily abandoning the project for the next few weeks...and then I realized how necessary these little words are to my sanity and survival.

I have to be honest here...I have more paintings to do in the next 3 weeks then I know what to do with. I am in full-on panic mode. I find it nearly impossible to function, much less breathe, unless I'm doing one thing: painting. What I'm noticing is that panic is a dangerous thing. It is debilitating. It distorts perspective. It's not getting me anywhere.

I got lost deep in the north woods once--and I panicked. You know that white-fear feeling? The feeling that races into your fingertips and the length of your body? The feeling that overwhelms you with instant confusion? A feeling of desperate peril? Yes, that feeling. Words to the wise: never panic. I got lucky and accidentally stumbled upon some hunters building a deer stand in the woods. It was getting late. I've never been so relieved to see people in my whole entire life.

Another time I got lost while kayaking in dense fog in the middle of a great big ice encrusted lake. It was nearly winter and the water was hypo-thermic temperatures--but it was so beautiful that I couldn't help but paddle just a little ways into the fog to see what it looked like. Mmmm...enchanting. But did you know that it is just about impossible to steer a kayak straight without a point of reference? Neither did I. When you turn to look behind you, it only makes it worse. I was found later that day by Search and Rescue, the fire department, and police department--as well as my dad and brother who were also dumb enough to go out in a canoe looking for me. I've never been more embarrassed in my whole life. That was waaaay more embarrassing than getting lost in the woods and even more embarrassing than the time I passed out at the front of the church in front of an entire congregation.

I also nearly got lost in the Himalayas during a 3 week trek. My group and I were coming down from a 17,000 foot pass and bad weather rolled in. There were avalanches all around us. Despite nearly impossible visibility and high altitude delirium, we kept our heads on straight, stayed together, and eventually found our way. Coming into a village never felt so good.

Ok...I'm starting to feel safer now. But my point? Never panic.

25 (mostly large, some very large) paintings isn't nearly as life-threatening as cold water, mountains, and bad weather. It's scary, but not life threatening. It only becomes life threatening when I forget to breathe. But this is what I mean when I mention distorted perspective.

I was going to put the "Word of the Day :: Living Life One Word at a Time" project on hold...but, as you can see, it has become a survival tool.

Seriously, people. This is about survival.


These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's words are DON'T PANIC. Remember: Panic will get you nowhere.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

**shark attack image borrowed from Travel Nooks.

ASPIRE--5 little letters to remind you to never give up...

This is an image that I have posted on my vision board.
I look at it every single day.
I love that little girl for the determination she possesses.

Today I took that image outside and hung it from the
big pine tree in my back yard.
It looks good there.

My word of the day is ASPIRE.

Today my head is full of ideas.
I write them into my little book.
The sky is the limit...
and I feel energized, excited.

This afternoon I have been invited to my niece's birthday party
to teach all of her 7 and 8 year old girlfriends how to paint dogs.
I feel honored.

When I turned 8 I wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer
(watch this video, it will make you laugh),
a piano teacher, a veterinarian.
I climbed a lot of trees...
especially the apple trees along the garden that my mom grew.

Today's message: NEVER GIVE UP.

I believe in you.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is ASPIRE. Go ahead, climb trees. Climb mountains. Succeed.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

DESIRE--6 little letters to fuel your inner fire

Desire.

I want my world to open up. I want my life to include more. How is that even possible? All I know is that I have an insatiable desire to grow and learn and experience this existence to its absolute fullest.

Lately, I've been spending time hanging out with The Pioneer Woman--on her website, that is. After voicing a desire to start painting and spending time with horses, the wonderful Amber sent me there. Now I can't seem to pull myself away.

This morning I've been hanging out with all the horses. As I scrolled through one incredible photograph after another, I imagined myself standing in the middle of wild openness surrounded by the movement of horses and dogs. That's when it happened. Up came the sting of tears that tells me when I'm in the middle of something real and important. It probably sounds strange, but when I find a string of inner truth that pulls in the direction of my heart...my physical body reacts the same way every time: with tears. It's weird and amazing and I am grateful for this ever-consistent nod from the universe that says: "YES. This is it. Follow it."

These days I have been painting a lot. I wish I could find the words to describe what happens in the act of painting animals--specifically, right now, a dog named Roxy. I am pulled deeply into the center of myself. It makes my skin feel thin. The layers between myself and something that I cannot explain seem to disappear. In short, I feel connected. But the feeling is more ethereal than that. Words fail to describe whatever it is that happens.

When I paint, my desires become clear. I can feel them from the inside out and when this happens the creation of those desires begin to take form. It is the beginning, the knitting together of a new reality--even when I don't yet understand what or how or why, there is something in the center of it that I know and feel my soul being pulled towards.

These days I feel a bit like a caterpillar in chrysalis. I don't know that I'll emerge as a butterfly, but I do know that a transformation is in process. Leaving the partnership and studio knocked me off track...but in a strangely good way.

This past year I have spent a lot of time pushing to get my dream off the ground. I pushed my work, my self, my abilities, my levels of bravery, motivation, and determination. I pushed myself physically, mentally, spiritually, and creatively. Over and over again, I nudged myself well beyond what I thought I was capable of--and, in the process, I have built something out of nothing.

But right now I don't want to push. Right now I just want to give myself over to the work at hand. I want to dive into it deeply--and I want to dream. But please note, this dream space is by no means a passive environment. It is fueled by something akin to fire. The caterpillar cloisters itself in the chrysalis because every last ounce of its energy goes into the manifestation of desire, into the creative/creation process of transformation. My chrysalis is made of paintings.


And, in this process, I am finding what has been waiting for me all along...

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is DESIRE. Live your desire. Be your passion.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

HOPE--4 little letters that hold the power to change everything

In the words of Obama:
"We have chosen HOPE over fear."

Live hope.
Believe in hope.
BE hope.

In the words of my uncle:
"There is always hope."






These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is HOPE.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

MUSE--4 little letters to get your creative blood pumping

I dedicate today to my inner muse.

My list of things-to-do has grown out of proportion. These days, I feel as though I'm in over my head. I spent a lot of time and energy yesterday being stressed out about what the next 4 weeks of my life will entail.

Have I mentioned that I have almost 30 commissions to complete in the next month? Er, um....yeah. This is for a big project that I have been promoting and preparing for since July. The pressure is on! I will say, however, that no matter how many paintings I have to do, I always give myself completely to each and every one--and I want it to stay that way.

Last night before going to bed I decided that I can either continue to be completely stressed out and make my life hell (like I did yesterday) OR I can just hand myself over to the inner muse and simply enjoy diving deeply into the work ahead. Yesterday I worked on a painting for a top model dog named Trixie. Trixie is an Italian Greyhound and probably one of the most refined looking canines I have ever painted. Her seductive expression (just wait until I'm done with that winking eye), rhinestones, and print background has been like little candy treats for my muse. The detailing is a bit obsessive, and yet that is just the sort of thing that feels good right now.

Today I will continue working on Trixie. I will stretch canvases and begin sketching out more portraits. I'm not going to worry about life's other details. For now, I'm going to simply focus on the small picture, not the big one (the big one is too overwhelming). I'm going to continue breathing and smiling and listening to music. I'm going to drink chai and paint myself into a patterned ecstasy.

Today I am inviting a friend to join me in my studio.
Her name is: My Inner Muse.

She is really happy with me for finally noticing her. The poor girl has been neglected due to my incessant stressing, migraine fighting, and running around. I didn't realize how much I missed her, but it's nice to have her back. However, just now, she has just informed me that she would like a better name. I'll let you know what we come up with. In the meantime, who is your inner muse? What is she like? And does she have a name? Tell me about her. I want to know. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if our inner muses already know one another!

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is MUSE. Invite your inner muse to play!
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

BREATHE--7 little letters guaranteed to get you through anything

Guaranteed: Breathing will make you feel better.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is: BREATHE.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

LET GO--two little words that celebrate the art of living in the present moment.

Today's "Word of the Day" is big enough to include two words and they are: let go.

I've been trying to figure out how to write this post for quite awhile now. Nearly 2 weeks ago, I backed out of the business partnership. This past Monday it was made official. And, as of today, I have also moved out of that big, beautiful studio space that I only recently moved into.

There is a part of me that wants to scream, WTF(?!?!) into the bright blue sky. There is a part of me that wants to explain everything. But it's not worth it. Nor would it be respectful, since all of this involves another person.

At first, there was a part of me that felt like the Universe had just played some kind of sick joke on me. I have dreamed of a space like this for as long as I can remember. For two months, I put my heart and soul into getting the space ready and into all the plans that it included. Then I enjoyed it for barely 2 weeks. There is a part of me that is incredibly mad at myself for investing so much time, planning, labor, and dreams into something that was never meant to be.

There is another part of me that feels grateful that the Universe saved me from getting deeper into something that could have become much messier down the road.

There was a part of me that thought I needed that space in order to grow. There is another part of me that realizes that, because of that space and the experiences attached to it, I have already grown. Having a big, fancy, "proper" studio space does not make me more of an artist. It does not guarantee success. It does not make me a better person.

There is a part of me that feels stupid and embarrassed for getting into this situation in the first place. There is another part of me that is grateful for what this experience is teaching me.

Lesson #1: Always listen to your gut. Oh, how cliche! But it's funny how your gut always knows...usually waaaay before you're willing to admit it to yourself.
Lesson #2: I am capable of much more than I was giving myself credit for. I hate to admit that there was a part of me that went into partnership because I lacked enough self-confidence to believe that I could be successful on my own.
Lesson #3: Negativity, holding grudges, playing the victim, and moving through life with a chip on your shoulder will get you no where. I would prefer to move forward with an attitude of open-heartedness, joy, and love. That is, after all, what the core of my work as an artist is all about. You know the saying: "Energy flows where attention goes"? Well, I want my energy to go in positive directions. That means only one thing: that I must allow myself to let go, let go, let go, let go.... this has become my chant.

I couldn't agree with Olivia more when she writes, "it is really exciting for me to read about and see women courageous enough to make so-called "mistakes" and then just keep right on going. Let's face it, lots of people share their successes, which are indeed inspiring. But to share your mistakes and then to work to turn them into something that does fit in a beautiful way---that's even more inspiring to me." I can't thank Olivia enough for those words. I read them at just the right time.

A few nights ago, I went downstairs to paint, but was instead drawn to the journal I got in celebration of The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women. There was a photo of my studio laying on my workbench. Impulsively, I glued it to the page. Then I wrote the words: "Goodbye beautiful Studio. You were never mine. Be well." This made me sad. I knew that no matter how many years might pass, if I opened up the journal to that page, I would probably feel a sharp pang of loss. The journal is still relatively new and I hated to put something in it that would make me feel so bad. And so I kept adding. I added an image of a road, a window, wildly blooming flowers, a butterfly, and words that speak to this journey.

By the time I was done, I felt transformed. Oh, the healing power of art. It will never cease to amaze me. Flipping through the pages of a magazine I saw the words "Leap of Faith." It was for an article about sky diving. The words felt good. I mean really good. They felt like the next chapter of my life and so I pasted it at the top of the next page.

This is the place where I begin again.

I admit, I even love the mess that surrounds it.

One of the best things to come out of an otherwise shitty situation is that is has given me an opportunity to reassess and get clear about my goals. This is an opportunity to stop and listen to the whispers of my heart. I'm learning that there's something to be said for the unexpected gifts that flexibility can bring.

What it boils down to is this: I made a mistake. I made a very big mistake--one that I am tempted to regret. And yet, I don't want to regret this.

Today I am letting go of what wasn't working. I am letting go of a vision that wants to take a different path. I am letting go in order to let something better in.


Even though I only worked in that studio space for a couple weeks, I enjoyed it beyond measure. It made me want to dance and sing. It showed me that anything is possible. My friendship and brief partnership was a nudge that helped me to learn how to dream bigger. I have a feeling that the space and the dreams that it held will always hold a profoundly important place in my heart.

But today is the next stage of the journey. Today I am starting over. Today I am grateful for what was because it is leading me to what is next. Upon waking this morning, my life looked like this:

To let go is to celebrate the deep art of living in the present.

The benefits of working from home are countless. Despite losses, despite messiness--I am grateful for all of it.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's words are LET GO. Be here now.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

PLAY--4 little letters to put things in perspective

Last night Vinny and I invited a little play into our life by treating ourselves to a bit of an upscale salon for haircuts. It had been over 6 months since the last time I had a haircut. Yikes! Needless to say, I was in desperate need of one. I'm not one to put a lot of time into worrying about my hair, but at some point it becomes embarrassing to go out in public. I was getting to that point.

Is it weird that my husband I like going to haircuts together? LOL Well, if it is then, oh well! I like being weird. I like being married. I like getting haircuts. I like setting my work aside for one night and allowing myself a little bit of pampering and play. Yay for new haircuts!!

These 4 little letters should have been posted yesterday...but what can I say? I was off having fun instead! :)

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is PLAY. Go ahead, treat yourself.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

SACRED--6 little letters to live with intention

Today I am going to live the word sacred.

I must admit, I totally get a kick out of the way my "sacred apron" spoke to so many wonderfully creative women who listened to my interview with Jamie. You know how there's some things you just do? Those things that, although you know they are significant, you simply do it without a whole lot of thought? Well, that's how it is with the sacred apron. I just do it. I put it on and, in doing so, I draw a line between busywork and creative work. Putting on my apron means that it is time to focus on the creative task at hand...and the best part is that it works every time.

Today my sacred apron is going to be worn well. It has a big day in front of it as I finish up several large commissions. Along with my apron, I am going to wear moccasins. I found them last night tucked in between two boxes on a shelf in my basement studio. They are comfortable elk hide moccasins that I always used to wear in my old studio up north. How could I have forgotten them? Well, no matter. I was happy to find them last night. They make me feel grounded. When I'm wearing them I feel connected to my life and the ground beneath me. Moccasins have a funny way of doing that.

Today feels good. My work, my life, my endeavors...they feel sacred. The sun is shining and the dogs are giving each other kisses. Today I am finishing projects that, in doing so, will make room for what's next. I will drink tea from my sacred cup. I will breathe and eat well and enjoy the tasks at hand. Today I will live with sacred intention. After all, sacredness surrounds us.

My "sacred apron" is old and paint stained. It wears the marks of hundreds of paintings. It is spotted in almost every color I have ever mixed. I made it myself from scraps of fabric and cord. Over time, my apron has become "mixed media." I wear my apron and my apron wears my creativity. Sometimes, I forget that it's on. It's a part of me...a part that I love the look and feel of--even if it is grungy and worn. Or maybe I love it because it IS grungy and worn. Sacred lives best in those every day things. Don't you think?


What little actions will you perform to bring a sense of sacredness to your endeavors?

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is SACRED. Live with sacred intention.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

Home is where the heART is...

"Where thou art - that - is Home." ~Emily Dickinson

It feels good to be home. I returned earlier today from a belated Christmas celebration with my siblings at my mom's house, in the even colder tundra of northern Minnesota.

It felt good to eat a big meal prepared by mom. Not only is she an incredible cook, but she infused it with a tremendous amount of love. It's been over 6 years since I've eaten a meal cooked by her. Sure, I see her often enough, but we're always at my grandma's, my sister's, my house, or camping. But 6 years--how did that much time go by?? My siblings have not been together under my mom's roof since we helped her pack and move out of our childhood home when her and my dad got divorced. But, let's face it, sometimes bad times happen for good reasons.

I've had plenty of rough spots with my mom, but over these past several years she has transformed into the most incredible woman I know. Maybe it's the rough spots that make me appreciate her all the more. She is, after all, the inspiration for the Be Brave Project. But, really, she is so much more than that. It felt good to go home. And now it feels good to be home.

Despite the fact that this house is only rented, I think there is a part of me that has come to appreciate what this particular house provides. After a long road trip, the softness of our broken in couch and dog snuggles feels better than ever. The sound of happily snoring cats causes me to settle in even deeper.

This is an art filled home. It is an animal filled home. It is a love filled home. As Sarah Ban Breathnach writes: "Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need." I feel that way today. I have everything I need. And it feels good.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is HOME. heart + art = HOME
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

WISH--4 little letters to cast into the wind...

Go ahead...make one (or two or three or four).

I believe in you.

*
These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is WISH. What did you wish for?
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.
ps.
be inspired...
visit Jamie's Wishcasting project.

~

COURAGE--7 little letters to help you follow your fascinations...

Secret #3 of The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women is "Following Your Fascinations." And I am honored to have had the extreme pleasure of being interviewed by the fabulous Jamie. I invite you to listen to it here. I love seeing her project grow in such a dynamic way. She followed her fascinations and--wowzers!-- I am so glad that she did!

This chapter, for me, has special meaning. Not only because it was the focus of my interview, but because it deeply reflects so many of the issues floating around in my creative life. As I listened to the interview I was amazed by how many messages there were for me in my words...messages that I needed to hear, things I need to remember. Especially the part about following my energy and creating from a place that feels true to my heart.

My word for the day is COURAGE--and I am choosing that word in celebration of following our fascinations. Why? Because sometimes it takes a helluva lot of courage to follow the tug of our heart. It takes courage to take a chance, to change directions, or to try something new. It definitely takes courage to chart your own course. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), the creative life never comes with a set of instructions. Of course, if it did, it wouldn't be creative!

From this week's chapter, there is one quote in particular that grabbed my attention and doesn't seem to want to let go:

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."
~Erica Jong, Writer.

There's one question that I love the most in this chapter and that is: Are you ready to follow your fascinations?

Maybe I like this question because, for me, it's an easy one. My answer, without a doubt, is yes-yes-yes! Ok...the question might provide an easy answer--but, let's face it, following our fascinations takes more bravery than anything else I know of.

These days I find my fascinations leading me down a path inspired by my love for dogs. Following my fascinations feels like following a string. It's there--always there--but it can break, it can go slack, it can get tangled...lots of things can happen to that string. But when I'm really, really onto something...I feel that string stretch out in front of me. It's taut and energized. It's like finding a string in the dirt and, when you pull on the end, up comes more and more and more...and you just keep following it and the further you follow it, the more mesmerizing it becomes!

Right now my string is leading me to India where I would like to immerse myself in the world of stray dogs. When I think about this project, my heart weighs more, I get the sensation of being filled from the inside out. It is similar to the sensation one feels the moment right before laughter or tears. When I feel that sensation, that's when I know I'm on to something. That's when I notice the string.

Secret #3, "Following Your Fascinations," dives deep into the nitty-gritty of what it means to move from your center and make decisions based on your truth. When our fascinations gets real, it gets scary. The more it matters, the scarier it becomes. The more it matters, the more important it is. The more important it is, the more it's worth the risk. This chapter is about perserverance. It's about risk taking. It's about screwing up and having faith. Most importantly, it's about having the courage to manifest things that do not yet exist.

My other favorite quote from this chapter is this one:

"If you can put fear aside, you're unstoppable."
~Janet Hagberg Writer and Activist.

Just think of how much we're each capable of if we put fear aside. Just think where we would be if we did this over and over and over again!

We really are capable of manifesting absolutely everything we dream of--but first we need to take a step toward it. And then another step...and another and another.

Here's to being open to the journey.
Here's to celebrating the process.
Heres's to making good decisions,
but forgiving yourself when you make ones that don't work out.
Here's to living from the inside out.
Here's to courage and the evolution that accompanies it.
As the card on my desk says, "don't be 'fraid of nuthin."

May your fascinations lead you to the center of yourself. Over and over and over again.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is COURAGE. don't be 'fraid of nuthin!
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

PEACE--Part II

After reading the last post, Donna shared this video with me. Now I'm passing it on to you. Stories like this make me immensely happy to be doing what I do. If this were a peace experiment, I'd say that it's a success. ;)


Watch CBS Videos Online

Thanks James. I am liking this domino effect.
I guess that's the thing about peace, ey--it's contagious.
~

PEACE--5 little letters that, when mixed with love, are fun to expermient with

This week, the topic of 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women focuses on honoring our inspirations. It's about cultivating attractions, practicing play, communing with your senses, taking time to capture ideas, creating a sanctuary and inventing creative rituals. Well, if you ask me, this is one power-packed chapter!

I love the idea of giving myself 15 minutes of quiet time every day to simply listen to my thoughts. And, more than ever, I find myself hungering for that daily moment of peace. I want to make a space within me every day that leaves room for the unexpected to lead me in new, energized, and deeply authentic directions.

Life comes crashing in and I feel myself become tense with anxiety. When this happens, I notice my creative receptors start to close up, shut down. Over and over, I find myself needing to guide my thoughts back towards center. Let the debris fall away...let the nervousness fall away...let the pressure fall away. Like meditation...let the thoughts comes...and then let them go. This is how I guide myself back in the direction of peace--over and over and over--sometimes a million times a day.

What I love most about the questions Jamie has asked in response to this chapter is how they guide you back to that place of inspiration. They have an instant calming effect. They have a way of opening those doors and windows of the spirit--creating a space for breath, possibility, and light. These questions are little invitations to our creative selves to come out and play, to believe in ourselves, to enjoy our vision.

In my world LOVE=PEACE. And PEACE=LOVE...over and over and over again. One creates the other. Today I want to find peace...peace in the little things. And in order to do that I have decided that I will pay attention to the things I love.

In response to Jamie's questions:
What have I always loved, what inspires me, catches my eye, makes my heart sing...

• Sunlight--and lots of it. Sunlight on the walls, sunlight on the furniture, sunlight spilling across my home and workspace--it fills me from the inside out.
• Wood--I don't know what it is, but I love the way natural wood makes me feel--wood floors, wooden ceilings and beams, a wooden table or workbench, an old wooden chair. I love the look, the feel, the smell, the warmth that it creates. Interestingly, wood is an element that I feel deeply comforted by.
• Books--I love being surrounded by them...on bookshelves, in stacks on the floor, carrying them with me in my purse, in piles on my desk and next to my bed...What is it about being surrounded by books that is incredibly inspiring? They remind me that there is no end to ideas. They connect me to something bigger than myself.
• Nature--oh, sweet solitude. I have always loved the way that nature gets me back to center. It is a space where my thoughts flow more easily, my body breathes more deeply. It is calming and energizing all at once. Not to mention, nature makes some of the best color combinations of all. In nature, clarity returns.
• A good cup of coffee--there is something incredibly exciting and inspiring in that first sip of an excellent cup of coffee. And it something that never fails to catch my creative time on fire. When diving into a creative project, a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea is something of a ritual for me--it marks the passage between everyday stuff and creative time. There are little enjoyments that I partake in, in order to make the switching of gears more obvious to me--and this helps me to honor the creative time I give myself.
• Reds, fuscias, orange, warm yellows...I am a warm color person at heart. Even if I don't paint with them that often, I am attracted to those colors...always. They cause something inside of me to wake up...over and over and over again. Actually, now that I think about it, I often paint dogs in with lots of blues and cooler colors...perhaps it is the contrast. I love the way these colors of my life compliment and accentuate each other.

Ok...this list could go on forever. And so, today, I am going to do a little experiment on myself. I am going to look for things I love. I'm going to pay attention to the things that catch my eye. In everything I do and every where I go. I'm going to pay attention and, when I feel it, I am going to make a note to myself...I love this. Oh, I love this. Ooh, look at that--this is something I love too.

And every time I see or feel or smell or experience something that I love, I am going to pay attention to what happens to me on the inside. Do I feel peaceful? Do I feel inspired? Does it make my heart sing? And then I'm going to let myself feel whatever it is I'm feeling--completely. Even if I only give myself one second to feel it--I'm going to give myself the space to feel it fully.


Something tells me that the effects of this experiment will be good for me. Today, my "Word of the Day::Living Life One Word at a Time" is PEACE. And so today is going to be a peace experiment.

I'll let you know how it turns out. ;) In the meantime, here's to honoring our inspirations.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is PEACE.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

GRACE--5 little letters to smooth out life's wrinkles and bumps

GRACE

Life is a chance.
Love is infinity.
GRACE is a reality.
~tea bag wisdom


These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is GRACE. May you move through your day with plenty of it.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.
~

JOY--3 little letters worth celebrating

Today I am dedicating to joy.

I sat down to write this post and then got up again in search of a quote that might highlight my thoughts on JOY. I picked up Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance, opened it up and, I kid you not, the topic for January 19th is "Joy: Learning Life's Lessons with a Light Heart" (the book broken up into the days of the year). Um...can you say WEIRD?! I love these sorts of synchronicities. Interestingly, they have been occuring often these days.

What I found in her words fits my life perfectly right now. I started the day out feeling a bit battered, worn out, crabby. My day could have continued on like that indefinitely, but there is another way of looking at things and the second I acknowledged that, I began to experience joy all around me. Little things--everywhere!

Anyway, here's what Sarah has to say about joy. I'm letting this quote run away from me...

"Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy. But this requires a profound inner shift in our reality. Many of us unconsciously create dramas in our minds, expecting the worst from a situation only to have our expectations become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Inadvertently, we become authors of our own misfortune. And so we struggle from day to day, from crisis to crisis, bruised and battered by circumstances without realizing that we always have a choice.

But what if you learn how to stop the dramas and start to trust the flow of life and the goodness of Spirit? What if you began to expect the best from any situation? Isn't it possible that you could write new chapters in your life with happy endings? For many of us this is such a radical departure from the way we have been behaving that it seems unbelievable. Yet it is possible. Suspend your disbelief. Take a leap of faith. After all, what have you got to lose but misery and lack?

Begin today. Declare out loud to the Universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy. It just may take you at your word. What's more, you'll discover, much to your amazement and delight, that such blessings have been waiting patiently for you to claim them all along." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

To me, JOY looks like:

1. Warmer weather (above zero!), sparkling snow, a long walk.
2. Enjoying the fact that I no longer have a 9-5 job. This is something my morning walks always happily remind me of. When I worked at the garden shop I would take the dogs for a walk every morning and wished that I didn't need to go to work. I dreamed of the day that I would be able to make my own schedule as a full-time artist and, thus, be able to take as long of walks as I want. This is now a reality--one that my morning walks remind me of on a daily basis. :)
   
3. When walking all three dogs this morning I found great joy in this morning's interaction with a husband and wife who were driving past in their car. They stopped, rolled down their window, and remarked on what incredible dogs I have. I smiled and agreed wholeheartely. They didn't need to stop and say something, but they did--and I think the day was made better for all of us because they did. I smiled the rest of the way home...and so did the dogs!
   
4. A freshly brewed cup of dark roast coffee that I'm drinking out of a white porcelian cup with saucer. Cups with saucers have an odd effect of delivering extra joy with every sip of coffee. It's the little decadences that count!
5. Whipped cream--in my coffee and straight out of the can! :)
   
6. Having money to deposit in my checking account. Never mind that the bank is closed today. Today I'm finding joy in the fact that I have money to deposit tomorrow!
7. Speaking of tomorrow...after that money is deposited, this also means that it is ART SUPPLY SHOPPING DAY! Whoohooo! This is one of the perks of the work I do. Dang, I love art supply shopping. I mean, who wouldn't?!
8. The sun is shining. The sky is blue.
9. I'm going to eat homemade chili for lunch--cheffed up, lovingly, by my husband.
10. I am in the midsts of beginning a whole new project--a series of paintings in preparation for an exhibition: Dogs of Linden Hills. I have almost 30 commissions to complete in the next 6 weeks! Part of me says: Yikes! The other part of me says: Successful Abundance! :)
11. Snuggling dog love at my feet.
12. Snuggling cat love at my back.
13. Having an incredible support network of friends--such beautiful, creative, loving women--whom I feel joy beyond measure to know and be connected with.
14. The daily dose of inspiring emails and comments that I wake up each morning to find--including today!
15. I find extreme joy in the POSSIBILITIES!
16. Realizing that I had gotten off track, but this time being smart enough to stop and find my way back to myself.
17. Warm cornbread with butter and honey for breakfast.
18. Coffee and conversation with 2 incredible artists tonight.
19. Support--endless support, everywhere I turn.
20. Twice (!) while driving this morning, people started smiling hugely at me. At first I thought there must be something wrong with me! Did someone put a funny sign on my car? Was my hair sticking up? What? But I smiled back anyway...and it made me feel so freaking GOOD! Turns out, people are just happy today and in the mood to share. :)
21. Waking up to a clean house after embarking on a cleaning rampage yesterday. Ahhhh *sigh*...it feels so much better. I can think!
22. The gurgling sound that the 5 gal. water jug in our kitchen makes. I love that sound!

ok...obviously this could go on forever. Even that makes me feel joy! What about you?
What has brought you joy today??

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is JOY. enJOY!
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~

DREAM--5 little letters to remind that dreaming is like creation looking for itself.

"One day you will remember the Great Dream, and the way will become known to you. You entered into life through the veil of the Dream, because your reason for being here must be kept secret from you until you find your way home. You don't know who you are, but one fine day you will remember. It is like creation looking for itself."

~Lynn V. Andrews Power Deck: The Cards of Wisdom.

Andrews reminds us to have the courage to manifest our dreams in our lives....because dreaming, transformation, death, and rebirth are just a part of the training.

Go ahead--DREAM BIG. Dream AUTHENTIC.

These letters are part of an ongoing project:
"WORD OF THE DAY :: living life one word at a time."
Today's word is DREAM.
May these letters remind us that dreaming is the first step towards manifestation.
See more letters and words at my Patch of Sky Etsy shop, here.

~