Tidbit Tuesday

Blogtoberfest Day 2

Tidbit: a choice or pleasing bit (as of information)

Bits of information about me.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. 

The colors.

The cool mornings.

The leaves changing.

Wearing bulky sweaters.

Did I mention the colors?

Apples.

Apple pie.

Apple cider donuts.

I am looking forward to visiting Wisconsin and my family in a few days for a long weekend. A little antique shopping (which I'm sure I'll share some pictures here), a visit to the apple orchard, playing cards, creating art, and decompressing from living in NYC. 

My home town has 5,000 people in it. I bet the 4 blocks near my apartment have 5,000 people. Funny, I love them both for totally different reasons.

Wisconsin in Fall, my favorite.

Blogtoberfest & Shared Message from the Universe

Blogtoberfest: Day 1

Last year, you may remember that I participated in Blogtoberfest, blogging every day during October. I remember that I hadn't been blogging for very long, I didn't think I would be able to to do it, it pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I made many new friends during that month. So, here I am again, with many of the same thoughts. :)

It isn't too late to play along, pop over to I Saw You Dancing and learn more about Blogtoberfest.

For those of you who are new to my blog, each Monday I share a message from the universe.

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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This past Sunday in the NYTimes magazine they featured stories, quotes, and snippets about inspiration. This single sentence on the cover page to the inspiration section spoke to me.

Most of all, try again, repeatedly.

So many things in life are instantaneous. You can call a friend, video chat with them, buy what ever you want online, have food delivered, etc. Living in NYC makes instantaneous easier.

I've learned, over the past year, that making a creative life is not instantaneous. That, most of all, I have to try again, repeatedly. 

Carrying a full time job means that, for me, it will take longer.  I don't have the hours each day to create, take orders, ship packages, write my e-course, plan, plot, do my own accounting, etc.

I often have to prioritize based on time and energy. 

I am okay with this, I have to be, it is where I am right now in my journey

I will get there, but I cannot get there all at once,

and...

most of all, I have to try again, repeatedly.

This message reminds me that it is okay, and part of the process, to try. If it doesn't work the first time, try again, tweak it a little...and try again, repeatedly.

So, you will see not only photographs, which I love to take, but my newest obsession, stamp making, carving and stamping, watercolors, art journaling, book making, etc. 

I've found that to balance my crazy day job, I need to play by being creative, in any way that makes my heart sing.

So, while you are reaching for your dreams, remember that they won't appear instantaneously. Be prepared to most of all, try again, repeatedly. 

Have you seen any messages this past week?

Creative Color Challenge - Dusky Sunsets

This month's Creative Color Challenge was inspired by the dusky sunsets of Spain. 

I've been playing the past couple of weeks. Photographing NYC. Making my own stamps, stamping with food, playing with my watercolors, filling in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project, holding it together at my crazy, stressful day job...not blogging to give myself a break before I start up with Blogtoberfest (yes, I'm participating again) - blogging everyday during October. So, stop back all next month. 

Meanwhile, I did my best to create with the dusky sunsets of Spain palette that Louise Gale challenged us with this month. I came close but my colors are still a little too bold. I find soft pastel anything uncomfortable to work with. Needless to say, I played with the colors as I saw them.

I saw a similar color palette at the Farmer's Market in Union Square.

That same day I bought okra and went home to stamp flowers. Okra, when cut makes a beautiful flower. I chose a couple of colors from the picture above and from Louise's challenge and stamped.

By the way, now comes the fun...using this pattern to carve my own set of flower stamps and create a line of not only stamped art but to also translate the pattern to silver for pendants and earrings.

By the way, this is how my brain thinks. Patterns for jewelry and large metal sculpture. I know that some day I will have more time to create everything that is in my heart, head, and sketchbook. Until then I will continue to create, plan, and dream. 

Thanks for traveling with me on my creative journey.

Hop over to Louise's website to visit other artists who created art using the colors from this month's Creative Color Challenge.

Shared Messages from the Universe - Live in the Moment

It is my belief that messages from the universe speak to me and remind me of something that is inside of me. When I first see them, I often don't even know what is really being advertised. Instead, the message conjures emotions or thoughts relating to something that is going on within me; in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. I see them on billboards, in magazines, store windows, church plaques...everywhere.

I secretly call them soul whispers.

The messages are all around us

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On the subway after a particularly long day...this was above my head.  

See, I didn't notice it, I was (in zombie mode) totally focused on getting home, and not paying attention to the world around me.

This is often a sign that I need a break.

 I was, however, playing with the camera on my phone. 

I captured this and laughed out loud.

And, thought to myself, 

yes, universe, 

my apologies for being a zombie, 

thanks for slapping me in the face.

I smiled as I walked home from my stop.

See, I really do believe that the universe sends us messages, the messages with the words are easier to see, at least for me to see, most of the time.  I am getting better at noticing the non-word messages (I'm still seeing feathers everywhere and the occasional dragonfly). 

Live in the Moment

be present, 

fully embrace where you are,

pause once in a while and truly - be...

turn off the planning mind, 

the worry about everything else thoughts, 

the where do I want to live ideas,

what do I want to be when I grow up dreams, 

and just enjoy where I am.

This is my plan during the next 2 weeks. 

This also requires a pause from here...

I am going to pause from blogging.

I, instead, am going to pick my camera up a little more, paint more, sketch, create, nap, snuggle with cats, work the day job, finish a post for a friends class, write more, work on my e-e-course, I am just going to be without the pull of having to blog.

So, I'll be back at the end of the month to link up with Urban Muser's monthly self-portrait prompt Perspective (9/28), Louise Gale's Creative Color Challenge, and then on the 1st for Kat Sloma's photo heart connection...

Shared Message of the Universe will return on 10/8, I know it seems so far away...meanwhile scroll back through and check-out my past Monday posts for the messages that have touched my heart.

Oh, and do me a favor, 

pause every one in a while, notice the wind that blows, 

the crickets at night, the smile on your loved one's face, 

nap, embrace where you are and...

Live in the Moment.

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap Joy

A few months ago I signed up to participate in Kat Sloma's Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap and we're having a blog hop.

Mind you, I didn't have any postcards at the time but loved the idea of sending in 5 of mine and receiving 5 from other artists. 

I chose my photo of Cold Morning Horse and sent off my moo.com order. 

I love this photo. It was taken one very early Winter morning in Wisconsin. The way the morning light made the shadow blue, the light outline of the horse, and the fact that you can see his breath all just evoke such emotion for me. A calm yet bitterly cold day. One of those crisp Winter days that you long to stay in bed but you get up just to breathe in the morning.

I had such joy through out the month that I received little bits of art in my mail box. Living in NYC means concrete and crowds on a daily basis so to receive little bits of colorful art made my days after arriving home from the day job.

The above postcards are from the lovely:

Lorinda at Everyday Endeavors - love the colors on this painting (I loved that the first postcard I received came from someone that I know via this beautiful online art world.)

Polly Johnson (wonderful hand tinted and stamped collage art) - do me a favor and tilt your head to the right. :)

Christine at Christine Create - love the shapes, the colors, and if you visit her blog her photos are stunning!

The above postcards are from:

Christina at Soul Aperture - this photo made me smile, the colors, the perspective - joy!

Justine of Justine Gordon Photography - pure simple beauty in black & white - lovely!

and the hostess Kat at Kat Eye Studio - lovely, I just want to walk and see what is around the bend in this photo.

The playfulness of anticipation each day when I would arrive home from work, check the mail box, and flip through the days arrivals just to see if a postcard had arrived was a little like Christmas.

I am already thinking about which photo I would like to include for next year.

Now, please, please, please, hop over to Kat's blog, Kat Eye Studio, and visit a few other blogs to see the other wonderful postcards that were created and sent all over the word.