Stepping Out of My Creative Comfort Zone. Unexpected Surprises!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Stepping Out of My Creative Comfort Zone. Unexpected Surprises!

I stepped out of my creative comfort zone this holiday season making this gift for my friend, Dawn.

And it’s because of Dawn that I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone in opening more to the wisdom of snakes. I really couldn’t even look at one before she started talking to me about what she’s been learning about snakes.  I also realize some people have a real fear of them, so I won’t elaborate further.

But Dawn has helped me open in many other wonderful ways too and I’ve grown in some ways I’d have not expected this past year.

She loves all things animal wisdom, nature, art, and metaphysical. I really didn’t have a plan on what I was going to make, but turned to my “Zenspiration” books.

First I drew the “D” which is obviously stands for Dawn.  Then I added in the snake winding around the stem of the D which is her snake, Chloe. I then added her other snake, Carl on the right hand side.

To think I was even drawing a snake, when earlier this year, I would have a shiver run down my spine just thinking of one, was rather fascinating to me.

After completing the drawing, I knew I needed a background. Off to Walmart I went to see what type of papers they had in their craft section. I was so thrilled when I came across this “cosmos” paper. It was perfect!

But when I got home, the square paper tile covered up the main part of the paper, which prompted me to cut the center of the D out.

And then another surprise came after I placed the D on the cosmos paper! An eye appears to the right in the center. How cool, I thought! Can you see it?

After it was complete, I felt this warm gush of good feelings inside — it all felt so right — and so perfect for my friend.

And the best part is, Dawn really loved it! And all the good feelings came rushing back again of creating something that came straight from my heart… and was out of my comfort zone…and flowed without a plan.

Now that is when creating is at its best. And now I want more!

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We’re Going to Pay for This!

Posted by Barbara Techel

We are going to pay for this!

One saying that cracks me up is when we have a nice stretch of weather that seems rather unusual when someone is bound to say, “We’re going to pay for this.”

Take for instance, that we’ve had a very mild winter so far in Wisconsin. And that ol’ saying has been said often in many circles I’m sure.

And today, well, I guess you’d have to say they were right.  We are having our first snow storm of the season after a near record of many 50 degree days of weather in December, which really, is quite unusual. I don’t recall this happening in quite some time.

But I’m not really sure what we are paying for except that our poor earth with it’s polar vortex two years ago to it’s el nino this year, I think, is trying to tell us something.

I sure do remember being a little girl and snow piled up nearly to the top of the telephone wires. And it lasted for weeks! (and oh yes, I walked up hill both ways to school every day!)

I can’t say as I miss the snow days of yesteryear, but I was missing some of the winter storms that we should have had before today.

There is something exciting about that first winter storm, especially when snuggled at home and watching it all whirl round outside my window!

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Joy in a Lime Green Lamb Chop

Posted by Barbara Techel
Joy in a lime green lamb chop
Kylie and Lambchop

Well, eating a lime green lamb chop certainly does not sound too appealing, now does it?

But oh, just ask Kylie! She loves her lamb chop — or rather, Lambchop.

This is her all time favorite toy. The one I bought for Gidget before she came to live with me when I adopted her over two years ago.

To find out she is an unusual doxie and that she does not like to play with toys.

Huh?

But in swooped Kylie to the rescue and took Lambchop under her wing, err, in her chops — though very gently like only a Lab can do.

And she has loved this dear stuffed toy with all her heart.  So much so, Miss Lambchop needs to swirl and spin the washer every now and then!