TANGLED UP IN THE TREE OF LIFE

Tangled up in the tree of life

I subscribe to the magazine WHERE WOMEN CREATE Business.  I love to read the articles that are submitted.  The most recent post is about what goal would we like to achieve by the end of the year.  Wow.  Like so many others, I have a list.

It would be wonderful if I could get my webpage finished by January first.  I look at the webpages of others and wonder how in the world did they find the time (and money) to create a web presence.   Then there is the question of what to put on it. I guess I have my work cut out for me if I am ever to get it done by January 1.  In the meantime, I am going to go to my studio and play.  I will touch base again.  BTW, what goals would you like to accomplish by the end of the year?

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED

There is a wonderful fiber artist that I admire.  She does beautiful felt creations and has a line of wonderfully whimsical coats and sweaters out of recycled wool.  Her shop is on etsy where you will find her under katwise.  She is also on facebook.

The interesting thing about about her, and probably why I like her so much is that she is very colorful; her life, her work, her house, everything. But the most fascinating experience I had happened when I went to Providence to become certified as a Zentangle Teacher.  It was day two of the four day certification class and we had taken a break for lunch.  As I entered the dining area I spied this wonderful black and white sweater coat creation and I immediately spun around.  There was no doubt at all in my mind.  It was a Katwise creation.  I always wanted to see one up close and I couldn't believe that I was getting my chance.  The owner was also there to become a CZT and she confirmed that it was indeed a Katwise!  It might sound silly (except for those of us who have a love affair with fiber) but I felt (no pun intended) that becoming a CZT was what I was supposed to be doing and that I was with people of like minds. This is where I belonged.

Zentangle has helped bring me back into the studio in a way that I not been before.  I have overcome my creative block and I am playing again.  Creating art and creative people make me grin from ear to ear.  It is such a beautiful side of human nature don't you think?  I am just in love with it all.

A TIME FOR HEALING

PANACEA GODDESS OF HEALING

Lately, my drawing meditations have been about women and healing.  It seems to me that there is so much illness going on.  Serious illness.  Not just in the body but also in the mind.

I, for example, suffer from acute anxiety disorder.  I am not sure why or when it began exactly.  I know so many people that suffer from the same thing with panic attacks being the worst. It just seems that we are either angry, anxious, or fearful.

There is also the matter of the body.  Right now Cancer is on my mind.  I can't imagine its purpose or why God would even allow it.  Now, walking along on a sunny day, crossing the street and getting hit by a car......that I can understand.  It is easy to get the lesson here.....watch where the hell you are going when you cross the street or BAM....you are going to get run over.  I just don't get the lesson Cancer has to offer.
In any case, I am grateful that I have my studio. This is where I can create my reactions to life by drawing, sewing, quilting, meditation, and any other way that helps me stay focused and in the moment.  Oh, by the way, the Zentangle above is my rendition of Panacea.  I thought it was interesting that in my meditation I saw her as older, wiser, and with a smile.  She comforts me.  I hope you feel the same.

Tell me, how do you interpret your life?  In what ways do you find yourself being in the moment?

STAND STILL

Tich Nhat Han is a wonderful Vietnamese author who has written many books like "The Miracle of Mindfulness" and "Peace In Every Step".  I was introduced to his wonderful work and Eastern Philosophy while in graduate school.  Being in the moment is a deeply embedded concept in Eastern philosophy and one that I try to practice all the time.  It helps to focus the mind and sharpen the senses.  It calms the nerves as well.  Lately though, I feel as if I have been standing still too long: that movement is needed in order for me to continue on this journey of mine.

Movement.  Such an underrated phenomenon.  Movement is good for me.  Standing still is good for me.  I wonder if I could do both at the same time.  Movement is what will help the creative process.  Standing Still will help me pay attention.  Well, I guess I should move and do some creating.  It is a very good day for it.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Gathering for a Zentangle class

I haven't had a chance to blog much more than once a month because we have been traveling so much. But that is not to say that I haven't had much to blog about because I have.  We worked up at the cabin, I gave Zentangle classes and I spent time at Kripalu in Massachusetts. The summer has taken us all over including a trip to North Carolina for my mom's birthday.  We had a great time especially since we were traveling with my sister and her husband along with our brother and his girlfriend.

"hippy" bar

We took a break in the middle of the festivities to walk to beach and explore the area where we had rented a wonderful beach house.  One of our finds was a  lovely "hippy" bar that we really enjoyed.  And it was right behind the beach house.  They only serve beer and wine which was fine with us.  It was nice taking time out just to hang with our favorite people.  It was clear that the owner was a collector of very odd things which gave us so much to look at.

Hangin' with my two favorite women.

It was so good to spend time at this place and be with family.  I wished I could have taken this place with us.  Despite our fun, however, it was good come home.  I missed my studio and my sewing machines.  No matter where I go I know that there truly is no place like home.

ZENTANGLE AT KRIPALU

Zentangles from the retreat

I knew that a weekend at a Zentangle meditation retreat was going to be fabulous and I was not disappointed.  Not only did we have lots of fun but Kripalu was the perfect place to have it. New information and techniques were given and I found my self really inspired and wanting more.  The end of the weekend came far to quickly for all of us.  It was as if we had just touched the tip of the iceberg of infinite possibilities.

Another example of the beautiful work by participants is below.  There were 88 of us and every tangle was as beautiful as the one placed beside it on the table.  It was truly inspirational.

THE QUEST FOR A GOOD PRINTER

Laser or Inkjet

My darn printer died.  Well, not exactly; it half died.  The printer head is so messed up that when I tried to work on it I got ink all over my hand.  Uggghhhhh.  It still prints in black though which is good for my reports.  but it doesn't help me with my artwork.

Sometimes I get this creative streak where I want to make my own fabric design.  Color is important to me.  Whats more is color that doesn't bleed is especially important to me.  So I am doing a bit of research.

I am tired of the cost for ink with inkjets.  Laser printers seem to last so much longer.  I was surprised as to the improvements they have made with the inkjets.  I am even more impressed with the Laser print quality.  Does anyone care to share what they think?