Homegrown Hospitality

Cultivating Creativity

Oh, if you were a fly on the wall and you were watching my process of how I create...you would fly away! I create my own chaos, I know..but it is my process.  I can spend hours on something, and then, that GOD given technique of intuition kicks in...and that "something just is not right" feeling comes over me..

So in a nutshell, here is how one thing ...becomes another (I should have filmed it!)  I started with a blank canvas, some Mod Podge, some white paper, a sponge, some string and some watercolors..

and it became this...  
but I just was not loving it...I did not hate it..just did not love it...so I let it sit for hours and came back to it, and painted over the entire thing...and grabbed LOTS of torn paper and Mod Podge

 
and created a paper mosaic (not a great idea for paper hoarders like me because now I will NEVER throw another scrap away!)....and it became this

 
except...I did not love it. I liked it, but felt that it was not me. Maybe because it was mostly pink, and I only like PINK (the singer) and I just was not feeling it....so...after several hours of just leaving it alone, I came back to it...

and painted over it...(see I told you that you'd want to fly away!)..I painted over the hearts..I painted over the background...over the string...I used the sponge..I wiped this, that and the other...

and I LOVE it.

Now, I know that we are all different (duh!) and have different tastes & styles...and I also know that I can not please everyone (dang it!) and some of you are going to LOVE one of these..and possibly....HATE another, (well maybe not hate)..but you know what I mean!

so, which one is your favorite?

1 (paint and strings)

2 (Mosaic papers)

3 (paint, Mosaic,paint)

and because I am GODS Creative CRASH test DUMMY and HE fills my head with ideas and inspiration which leads me to create ALOT...over and over...I kept going...and here is just a look at what is being cultivated right now....

 
Happy Friday!

 

Watercolors...

Update from yesterday's post....

I KNOW that every flower looks different, that no two are alike...but I know me, and think I will stick to painting watercolor hearts...and maybe cute little houses for BRAVE birdies to fly to!

 

Closed For Restoration, Part 2

It is Saturday, January 29th.

I just got back from a great run through the canyon road right along the backside of our neighborhood.  It is a stones throw away from home but when you are on the path, it seems like somewhere else.  The hills are truly alive after being burnt two years ago and flooded just four weeks ago.  The sun is bright and happy..birds are flying and singing, the mountains seem to be standing firm and even though there are horse "landmines" here and there, the occasional coyote pile of whatever...it is really, really beautiful.  As I ran with my headphones blasting, I yelled (probably way to loud for that early in the morning)up to Ben (who was riding his bike way ahead of me)"I wish I had my camera!"

Do not put it past me to take it next time..we all know that I can run and take photos...

I am a dork, I know!

anyways, today is Saturday, January 29th...

one of the BIGGEST days in the INDUSTRY that I "create" in.

The first day of CHA...the Craft & Hobby Association Opening day...and it is, ut um, about 40 minutes north of here in LA...

and...

I am not going.

(insert screeching breaks sound effect)

That is the first time I have told you this and believe me, I have typed it out several times...just never pressed the "publish" button. Do not worry....I am NOT leaving the creative world...just taking a break from that extreme part of it because I am CLOSED FOR RESTORATION! 

I know me and I know that Tsunami RUSH that hits me as I step onto the show floor...it is big, strong, overwhleming and over-stimulating and I am so at a place RIGHT NOW of being focused on restoring, cultivating, repairing and renewing that I did not want to disrupt my progression

so today, Saturday, January 29th

I am at home..enjoying the morning..doing laundry and teaching myself how to paint flowers with watercolors!

 

There is Beauty Everywhere

TODAY...

take time to LOOK around..

READ between the lines...

FOCUS on what is around you...

be a GOOD EXAMPLE.

 
"Go out into the world, uncorrupted, like a breath of fresh air in a squalid and polluted society.  Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living GOD" Philippians 2

I'm Bringin Doodle Back

First, I was so excited to wake up and find that my little love bird was "Today's Featured Birdie" on the Brave Girls Daily Truth! Eeek!

 
and there is a cute little story aboout this little birdie...

Last weekend, I found myself sitting and then eventually laying on the garage floor with a box full of old crayons, markers and pencils that the boys have used through the years. (I keep it in the garage because I often have little "love bugs" with anxious little creative hearts & hands "ready to play"when they see me in the garage.)

So, with all of the dads standing in our garage this past weekend, watching football and yadda yadda yadda...in came my little visitors. (That is how I ended up on the floor)...when in walked my most favorite little girl with the cutest little t-shirt on...with a little bird on it. (inserts screeching breaks sound effect).  It stopped my in my tracks, for just a minute, so that I could quickly doodle it out on a scratch paper and then of course,  I continued on coloring and cutting while laying on the garage floor.

Once the football was over, the papers were picked up, the box of markers was tucked back into place and the garage was quiet, the little brave birdie came to fruition!

now, on last little thingy dingy...Some of you have asked, and YES! I am in the early concept stages of Doodle 201, so I would suggest that if you have not already taken Doodle 101, please do...because you will want the basics down...here is just a look at one of the new doodles that will be part of 201

 
Have a GREAT day!

Ready To Launch!

In case you have not noticed (but I think you have) I have been a little vague with alot of my cre-a-tive-ness since the beginning of the year...actually even before then because I got myself into a pickle with everything I was doing..not doing...trying to do and not wanting to do...(and how does one even get into a pickle, anyways??)

then, 

it all pretty much fell apart.

It was all a long time coming and I do not need to go into the gritty details. I am not one to point fingers, name names and blah blah blah because that does no good.  The  point is, I recognized what was happening, I picked myself UP, dusted myself off, stretched myself out, and now I am moving on and moving up.

It took getting to a certain point where I had to STOP, pretty much "drop and roll" and now, with the help of an amazing GOD, some really GREAT books, a handful of wonderful friends, a family that is always ready to witness my "take off" (over and over and over) and a renewed confidence....

I am ready to launch. (here is a little snippet from my art journal yesterday)

 
During this self proclaimed "Self Intervention" I am taking alot of time to really listen to what speaks to me the most. (and no, doodles do not talk..you know what I mean!) This is hard for me because I love LOVE love to create alot of things....all at the same time.  doodled this yesterday..first thing in the morning

 
well, DUH! who would not want to do that...BUT that is not going to help me..help you unless I refocus it into a lesson of some sort...through inspiring, teaching and sharing...so, in a nutshell..that is exactly what I am in the middle of..right now!

I guess I could have just said that in the very beginning...but that would not have been as fun!

Thanks for sticking with wm and "getting me"!

Practice makes Perfect!

The Valentine & I have been making HUGE strides in our new practice of eating well, and we feel really good!! We visited the new Farmers Market and were able to gather a ton of yummy new fruits including pomegranate seeds and Asian Pears, along with some really good vegetables.  It has us both excited to replant the ol' Homegrown Garden soon and have found the lOVE for a new staple to the pantry..Quinoa! (Thanks Regina!)

 
I practiced my housecleaning skills this weekend as my "cardio" as well as taking a few GOOD walks (walk like you are "late"!) and man, was it refreshing..and when I was finished, and after a nap (or two!) I practiced my creative skills and that was very rewarding..try it..you'll love it!

 
Cultivating and Restoring is working well and I highly suggest that you just GET UP and do it!!! "Change is Possible..It is only the Beginning" but take it one step at a time...it is worth it!

A Renewed Love

I am working on some "new things" that require my markers and I am feeling a renewed love for "coloring outside the lines"