NaBloPoMo – Page 2 – Life Unfolds Blog

A Sip of Serenity – AEDM Day 19

After a full week and weekend, I savored some open, spacious time this Monday morning. The scent of Tahitian vanilla filled the room as I brewed a cup of Yogi Comfort tea and sat down with my paints and papers. Ahhh, it felt good to give myself permission to simply create. I love the peacefulness and simplicity of tea. I love how it warms me up on a chilly day. So what better subject to focus on.

This piece is actually pretty small – 4″x4″. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself and this felt like the perfect size. The fortune on the top reads “Our first and last love is Self-Love” which will remind me to take time out for myself like I did this morning. That when I replenish myself by doing things I love and by practicing self-care, my tea cup of love, creativity and inner harmony flows freely. And I stamped the character for longevity in gold in the left-hand bottom corner as another reminder that by slowing down, I will actually have more staying power, endurance and strength for my journey.

How do you replenish yourself? How can you take time out today to breathe? What’s available to you when you allow yourself to just be?

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, painting, tea[/tags]

Clarity Collage – AEDM Day 17/18

Well, I must admit that I’ve really been challenged these last couple of days keeping up with the Art Every Day. A symptom of having too much on my plate this week. Ever have one of those weeks where you have something going on every single night? For a gal who typically maxes out at one social activity a week, it’s been exhausting. I’ve enjoyed catching up with friends, connecting with colleagues and leading meetings. And, I know I really need to carve out time for just me this week.

I actually created this collage yesterday at our second Creative Playground meeting. We gathered at Pamela’s lovely treehouse-like home for an afternoon of collaging and connection. We each found a few hours of refuge from our hectic schedules and relished in our collective creative flow.

The last several collage pieces I’ve done have been on smaller, portable surfaces (like on my dream box and my Unfolding Your Life Vision book), so I appreciated the freedom of working on a larger surface. I was drawn to spacious images and a mix of solitude, playfulness and community. When I shared my finished piece, my friends commented that the images had such clarity and, even though there was a lot going on, it had boundaries. That related very much to what is showing up in my life right now. So even as I seek out community, this visual reminds me to consciously protect my personal time to make sure I recharge and rejuvenate. I’m looking forward to a lighter, more spacious week!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, collage[/tags]

Felted Basket Finally Finished – AEDM Day 17

I finished decreasing and binding off the basket this morning. Next up, the whole new world of felting! Following felting instructions from my Stitch n’ Bitch book, I turned my washing machine on to hot and threw in a pair of jeans, my knitting and a couple of drops of dish soap.

After about 15 minutes of agitation, I had a felted basket! It’s still drying upsidedown and I wasn’t able to shape it all that well, but I’m excited to have finished my first felting project.

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, knitting, felting[/tags]

The Creative Connection – AEDM Day 15

In the half hour before leading a call today about Expressive Arts Coaching, a wave of anxiety came over me. Gremlins were hard at work grilling me… “What makes you think you can talk about this or that anyone would be interested in what you have to say? Do you even know what you’re going to say?!” and on and on.

Instead of getting sucked into the fear, I allowed myself to express it on paper in the form of colors and lines – a way to be with it, honor it and release it and, in fact, practice an exercise I was about to take the participants through on the call. I scribbled the nervousness and doubt and then did some movement around it. I then wrote the words “angst, confusion, scared/pit of stomach” on the back of the drawing.

Flipping the paper over again and looking at it anew I saw, instead of inner turmoil, a glowing fire with sparks flying. I laughed to myself realizing that we titled the call Firing up Coaching with Expressive Arts.

My perspective shifted to see my fear as passion and excitement as I stepped into something new and invited others to play with me. The image evolved more into a celebration and I found new words to describe my experience of it, “release, passion/fire, disseminating, firing it up, sparks, flow, dynamic.”

My friend Jamie and I had been exchanging e-mails this week about Natalie Roger’s book “The Creative Connection” and her concept of using the interplay of creative modalities like visual art, dance and poetry to deepen our experience and self-exploration. How each medium builds on the other and gives us new perspectives. This was so helpful for getting me in the right space to lead the call. And when we did the exercise together as a group, it was fun and enlivening for all. I’m excited about the community that’s gathering around this idea of consciously weaving expressive arts into coaching to move ourselves and our clients forward.

Also had my last session of the felted baskets class tonight. I still need to finish decreasing and then of course, try my hand at felting. I can’t wait to see what the end product looks like!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, expressive arts coaching, art visioning, coaching, knitting[/tags]

Road Block and Release – AEDM Day 14

Man, it’s getting hard for me to keep up with the Art Every Day. I notice that I’ve been waiting to the very last minute to squeeze something in before the night is up. Which makes me realize how easy it is for me, under normal circumstances, to let it slide… Oh, I’ll just do something creative later on today, or maybe tomorrow, or when I’m inspired, or… and then I don’t make anything for long periods of time. Even though I’m feeling overwhelmed and challenged during this commitment to art making every day this month, I have really appreciated being more aware of my creative process and allowing myself to simply experience.

Driving into the city tonight was a nightmare. The sea of red brake lights snaked on for miles. I felt trapped, stuck and frustrated. I worried about not being prepared enough for a call I’m leading tomorrow, I got mad at myself for not leaving my house earlier, I was tired, drained, overwhelmed and was sucked into the feeling of “road block.” Hence the bleak, angry image above.

Fortunately, when I finally arrived at my destination (albeit an hour late!) I was so relieved to have made it to the SF Coaches meeting. The group was halfway through introductions which included sharing something you’re grateful for in honor of Thanksgiving. As each person shared all the wonderful gifts in their life, emotion swelled within me. I was touched by all the things people were opening up to and manifesting in their life and it got me to reflect on how blessed I am with all that I have in my life. Those earlier feelings of frustration, stuckness and gloom melted away. And in its place, joy and fulfillment resonated. It’s amazing how by being surrounded by people living on purpose and by naming what I’m grateful for I quickly tapped back into my higher self.

What road blocks easily trigger you and how do you get past them? How do you connect back with your higher self?

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, SF Coaches, expressive arts coaching, art visioning[/tags]

Passion in Bloom – AEDM Day 13

After the Lady Launchers left my home this evening, a glow of positive energy permeated my living room like fairies had sprinkled magic dust in our midst. During the second week of the Ladies Who Launch Incubator we share our expanded visions of what we see as possible for each woman. I’m always amazed at what innovative, savvy and compassionate ideas are conjured up in this exercise. And I just love it when each woman’s eyes light up upon hearing an idea that really hits home. There’s a sense of surprise and delight and of being truly seen.

The energy from the Incubator inspired my quick art project for Day 13. I wanted to capture the passion, heart and fire I witnessed tonight. I picked up my crayons and just let the colors flow. I started off with pinks and reds in the center, symbolizing the seed of an idea, the love of something close to the heart. Petals ablaze burst forth from the core representing the blossoming fire and passion. The swirls of pink and yellow are the warmth and light that each woman’s essence brings as they share their ideas and dreams, expand their vision out in the world and touch other people’s lives. I feel so blessed to be creating the space for all this goodness to grow!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, Ladies Who Launch, Incubator[/tags]

Clear the Clutter – AEDM Day 12

Since I already had my Gocco Printer out to personalize a handmade album for a client, I figured I’d use it for my art project for the day. I printed out several lotus blossom images on various sorts of paper including this red vellum already Gocco’ed with some calligraphy from my grandfather.

I intended to do a complicated, layered collage with all the different printed scraps, but then was drawn to the simplicity yet boldness of this arrangement. Reminds me that sometimes the best option is the simplest one! Given all the different balls I’ve been juggling in my work and personal life, I could use some simplification and focus. This image will connect me with that.

How do you bring simplicity and focus into your life? What do you do to clear the clutter?

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, Gocco Printer[/tags]

Visual Journal – AEDM Day 11

Just a quick post tonight as I get this in under the wire. I decided to spend some time reflecting in my visual journal about participating in AEDM. This challenge has definitely stretched me to try new things! I’ve loved playing with different and surprising materials – like beeswax, plasticine and beads – each day.

I’ve loved expanding my view of art and creativity and focusing more on my process than worrying about what the end result looks like. For someone who grew up drawing things to look exactly like the picture I was copying, this adventure in simply creating is quite liberating. Over the past few years, I’ve allowed myself to create from a more free flowing, uncensored place. I know the more I do that, the more I can use art to fully self-express myself rather than trying to look a certain way.

Throughout AEDM and NaBloPoMo, I’ve also enjoyed discovering more bloggers and feeling part of a larger community. I look forward to continuing to connect with all these creative souls! Now time for bed!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month[/tags]

Out of the Box – AEDM Day 9

I have two back-to-back dream box workshops at It’s Yoga. Just got back from the one today with the 28-day Teacher Trainers and had such a blast with them. Each group has it’s own energy and this one felt gentle, inviting and playful. I loved hearing about all their different dreams including opening up a retreat center in the woods, singing opera and much more!

I dove right in, too, and made my own dream box this time. This new box is about being a leader in Expressive Arts Coaching. Participating in the Art Every Day Month challenge has been a great way to really get my creative juices flowing and I’m so excited about where this new direction is taking me in the coaching community.

Back to the yoga studio tomorrow for the weekend warriors!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, It’s Yoga Teacher Training, dream box, Law of Attraction, Expressive Arts Coaching, art visioning[/tags]

Purls of Wisdom – AEDM Day 8

I just got home from a knitting class at Article Pract. The talented and creative Julie Weisenberger, of Coco Knits, is teaching us how to make adorable felted baskets.

I was totally frustrated with myself because I didn’t get very far, was rusty with the needles and I forgot to practice casting on beforehand. I was reminded of how I tend to feel “remedial” when I’m learning new skills, especially in a group class. I do the whole comparison thing, get distracted by other people and I really hate reading instructions that have numbers or things to count. Lots of gremlin thoughts wrapped up in all that! My friend kept reminding me to just have fun – otherwise my stitches would be too tight ;).

It usually takes me awhile to get comfortable with a pattern. Once I can see the pattern taking shape, I find my groove and start to really enjoy myself. I think that’s probably a pattern (pun intended) that shows up in my life, too! When I’m trying something new, I can be really hard on myself and have high expectations. Then once I ease in and start to get a feel for where things are heading, I allow myself to enjoy the process. Would be nice to accelerate that ramp up time!

Anyway, I’m excited to do my first felting project and I think the end product of a wavy striped green and blue basket will be really cute. Must practice patience!

[tags]National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo, Art Every Day Month, Knitting, Felted Baskets[/tags]