creativity

Creative Change Happening in My Writing Cottage

Change isn’t always easy. But with change, if we allow ourselves to be with it, more often than not, new opportunities are able to flow with more ease into our lives. Recently, on my Facebook page, I shared a photo of a new chair I purchased for my writing cottage (photo below). Someone commented that something was missing. She was referring to Gidget.

The comment tugged at my heart. I replied that Gidget is still here as I feel her in my heart and I always will. But, yes, there are days I sure do miss the physical presence of that sweet little peanut. It’s five months today since she’s been gone. Since 2009 when my writing cottage was first built, for most of those years, a dachshund kept me company here in my cozy little room that sits off the corner of my deck.

Now I’m alone and I’m okay with that for now. Perhaps someday another dog will share this space with me. But for the time being, I’m content.

I’ve been enjoying making some changes in my writing cottage. Such as the decoupage piece I collaged with photos of birch trees and birds onto a long piece of plywood I painted gray (unsplash.com is a great site for copyright-free images). It hangs over the southeast window and here’s a close-up shot of it:

I was actually trying to find material to make a window covering that had a design of birch trees and birds and colors that would match my new chair. But I couldn’t find anything. Instead, I bought a solid color material I’ll make the window covering from and opted to make this art piece to capture what I was looking for in a material.

Over the summer the birds were such a comfort to me since Gidget has been gone. So I’m honoring that gift they gave me by incorporating them into my space. Plus the birch tree, known as the “Lady of the Woods” is my favorite tree. 

Earlier in spring, I put my over-sized floral wicker chair out on the curb and said: “free for the hauling.” It didn’t take long before it was gone. I enjoyed that chair, but I always had this niggle in my brain that it really was too big for this 10 x 12 space.

In Septemeber, I was gifted some money and took the opportunity to purchase this chair. It was worth the wait!

I realized that not only have greens and blues been inching their way into my home with the furniture we had bought last summer for our living room but now in my writing cottage, too. I’m loving it! They are such soothing and calming colors to me.

So small bits of change are happening around me. But change is good and when combined with sparking one’s creativity, well, it feels really good to be in this flow.

Wishing you a creative and cozy weekend!

XO,

Barbara

Out of My Comfort Zone

abstract painting

My first ever abstract painting. I’m not sure what to think, but I’m allowing myself to just ponder what is and what unfolded. And the thing is, I’m just not quite sure. So as one of my good friends taught me and sometimes has to remind me to do…I’m simmering.

I’m taking part in an online class called The Sacred Circle. I was drawn to the title of the class as anything sacred with the word circle usually gets my attention.  🙂 I wasn’t too keen about the abstract part of it but was willing to give it a shot.

I’m not sure abstract painting is my thing. Though I do love the colors I used. But I kept feeling like I wanted to make something I could recognize. Like a bird, or a flower, or something than just splotches of paint. What’s the point of abstract I kept wondering?

I felt uncomfortable. I even started over after I had a bunch of color on the canvas. I just wasn’t feeling it so I put two coats of gesso over it and started again.

I posted my painting in the private Facebook group for the class and the teacher, Denise, said, “Abstract asks us to let go and create.”

Another student said, ” Don’t think too much, enjoy the feeling of it. Even if it feels a bit strange in the beginning.”

Two powerful statements that not only apply to painting but to anything new we try or a challenge we are working through.

I thought about the writing of my latest memoir. How I had to learn to let go and feel my way through the experience of what I was going through last year and working through a wound that needed to be healed. And then I went through it again as I wrote my book. It was, at times, uncomfortable in the middle of it all, both the experience and the writing of it. 

But what I was going through, I’d come to understand, wasn’t something I could logically find an answer for. It was by feeling my way through it even when it felt incredibly strange, painful, and lonely that I now find myself in this new space of freedom within. It no longer feels strange but welcoming as I enjoy this new me that I’ve evolved into.

As I’ve been writing this post, I’ve glanced up a few times at my painting hanging in front of me. I feel it growing on me. I’m actually feeling some delight looking at it. I see the joy in the colors. I feel a swirl of excitement that I gave this a try.

I feel myself letting go of that darn perfectionist part of me. So perhaps this is what it’s all about. 

The definition of abstract: existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.

This makes sense. I see what I need to see and feel from the painting, and those who look at it will see and feel what they need to. There is nothing concrete in this painting and only perspective.

Nothing to prove. But to just let go and create and then take part in the evolving of whatever its meant to be.

Hmmmmm, perhaps I do like abstract after all.  🙂

XO,

Barbara

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We Are Not Broken

I Am Not Broken
Print by Cherie Burbach, “God Saw Her As Beautiful.”

I have a feeling this art piece will resonate with many. It certainly did for me when I saw it last week. Since learning about this local artist earlier this summer, Cherie Burbach, I’ve been following her work. Her passion for life and art come shining through!

When I saw this piece on her Facebook page, my heart caught in my throat for a quick moment, but then love and warmth flooded over me.

In the middle of the girl’s chest it says, “she saw herself as broken.” I was this girl for such a long time. And I know many have, and still do, feel this way.

This last year I feel as if I’ve busted through leaving behind seeing myself as broken. No more. I’ve taken back my power.  And while it was a rocky road to travel, I feel blessed for the lessons learned – and this pivotal teaching came to me because of a 10 pound darling little dapple dachshund you likely know if you’ve followed me here on my blog for awhile now. Yup, you guessed it…Miss Gidget! I continue to work on my newest memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am sharing the journey her and I have traveled. Hint of insight: Gidget was never broken either even though I thought she may have been.

So when I saw this painting, I just knew I had to have it. It hit me dead center with love and truth right in my heart. I remember clearly the day I felt what other’s have experienced, though I had never before. While I’ve always believed in the conceptual fact there is a God, I had a hard time seeing God as a man in a white beard. I see God as a vast, glorious, energy.

This past early spring when I felt as if I might have a nervous breakdown, I surrendered to Spirit and asked for guidance. I didn’t beg, but just simply stated I was ready, and that I would listen to what it was I needed to do.

And it was the next day I was guided, and even though it felt scary, I took the steps I needed to, to release a past pain I’d carried with me for over two decades. And when I did, I felt Spirit. It’s something that I can’t even find adequate words to express, but it was a feeling unlike I’d ever had before. 

When this print arrived today, I didn’t realize the other message embedded within it. I find it so interesting as it is written on the throat of the portrait and says, “be you ’til full.” 

Isn’t that beautiful?! That is what we are here to do…to be our full selves!

Looking up the definition of the throat Chakra as I know it is related to using our voice it says: 

The throat chakra is the voice of the body. It is a pressure valve that allows the energy from the other chakra to be expressed. If it is out of balance or blocked it can affect the health of the other chakras.

It’s through using our authentic voice to living in a way that matters to each of our souls is what “be you ’til full” is all about! If we don’t express our pain it blocks the way for true joy.

And for me, feeling Spirit embrace and hold me that day, and since then, I knew that Spirit always saw me as beautiful — and it was me that had to get out of my own way.

So I share this today in hopes that you too will find a way, if you feel broken, to see yourself as the Divine does – because it’s true – you are beautiful just the way you are. 

XO,

Barb

P.S. If you are interested in a copy of this print for yourself, you can find it, and other prints, by Cherie here.

P.P.S. I’m not an affiliate. I just truly enjoy sharing the creativity of others.