Can't Resist the Flowers!

I haven't blogged a single post in over three months!  Why?  Frankly, I've been paralyzed... paralyzed with indecision.  In an e-course I was taking, Hello Soul Hello Business, I was chosen to be mentored by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nichols.  Wow!  So exciting.  Their main suggestion was that I combine my business website with my three blogs.  Yes, I know it's crazy to have three blogs.  I've thought, and thought, and thought some more.  I just can't see how to do it.  I can't do it.  And last week, I decided, I don't WANT to do it.

Still paralyzed with indecision as to what to do with this blog.  I've thought of renaming so that it fits more with the name theme of my other two blogs, Living within your Harvest and Neglected Seeds.  Any ideas?

Regardless of the indecision, I can't resist joining in on my friend Lori Moon's May Flower Challenge.  She is an incredible photographer and blogger, and I've been enjoying her posts all month.  The month is just about gone, but I'm sliding in with my very favorite flower -- hellebores or more commonly known as Lenten Rose.

The simplicity and elegance of the Lenten Rose is what I think draws me to it.  They are the first to bloom -- sometimes even in snow -- and with such an intensity of color.  The color fades over time, but the simplistic elegance remains.

A single Lenten Rose with Kim Klassen's texture "green."  

Remembering Ms. Guinea

Guinea Fowl are strange birds, and I had only seen them in pictures when I decided to buy 45 newly hatched chicks.  A third of them were promised as soon as they arrived.  When they were older, I gifted them until I had six remaining.  A half a dozen guinea happily grazing the yard sounded just right.

And then they were discovered by a Great Horned Owl, and within two weeks I was down to one guinea -- Ms. Guinea.  She continued to out-smart the Owl for several months.  Each morning she was outside to greet me and would often sit on my home office window looking in.  Guineas can be loud, and no one came to the house without her alarm sounding.

Last week the Owl won.  Such is nature.  My Texture Tuesday project is a tribute to Ms. Guinea.

This is Kim Klassen's texture "Felicity".  One layer at normal 19% and one layer at soft light 100%.

Love of Art Blog Party

Our Fly Tribe is hosting a Love of Art Blog Party.  It's February, so it has to be "love".  And it's tax season, so I'm a bit short on time.  But yes, I believe in love -- love of art, that is.

It was just a little over a year ago that I with tiny steps began this creative journey, and it has truly been a blessing.  I have had so much fun trying out different techniques, viewing all of the fantastic art out there, getting to know some absolutely wonderful artists, and just piddling.  It has truly been good for my soul, and I don't want to ever abandon my need for the creative again.

These ATCs are ones that I made for our Fly Tribe February ATC swap.  I did a series using a photograph of my maternal grandmother. 

She died at the age of thirty from cervical cancer, and I have always been drawn to this haunting photograph.  I don't know if it's unhappiness or sickness or maybe just the pose of the times.  But it felt good to put her on my ATCs knowing that she could be traveling as far as Australia. 

There is a lot of Love of Art sharing this week.  The link at the top right takes you to more posts.  Enjoy and do your soul good.

Texture Tuesday

As if I don't have enough on my plate, I'm also participating in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.  The theme for this Tuesday is the word "open".  Here's my result.

I started with a stack of my old logic books -- some things you just can't let go.  Took a photograph with my macro lens.  And I do love my macro lens!  I've added Kim Klassen's textures "Serendipity" and "Shades of November".   Cropped the photo a bit, and there you have it.

Fly Tribe Blog Hop

Our Fly Tribe from Kelly Rae Robert's Flying Lessons e-course is getting creative again.  We're doing a blog hop about our "word" for 2012.

Here I blogged about starting again this year with Ali Edwards' One Little word project.  ORGANIZE is so, SO my word this year.  Hey, I had the pre-class assignment up before January first.

In the class, January's assignment is a 9 pocket page defining our word, it's various forms and focusing on intentions for 2012.  Last year in this class I struggled with the supplies.  This year I have scrapbook paper, stamps, fonts and best of all -- some of my own art to include.  Above is my mermaid from our last blog hop shrunk smaller than I thought was possible.

Yes, I want to do so many things.  The only way to do even half of all the things I want to do is to be organized.  "Whip into shape" -- isn't that a great synonym!  That's my plan -- I'm going to whip my life into shape; not organize a closet -- although they could use it.

 

"With this word, I invite into my life..." -- a powerful thing when we intend.  Order, structure and accomplishment are good things.  But calm is a big thing for me, and with my word, that is exactly what I am inviting into my life in 2012.  I don't want to spend the year resembling the woman above in my little pen sketch I did for my financial blog.  I have spent too much of my life in that frazzled state, and I am excited and looking forward to organizing!

I hope you visit the other members of our Fly Tribe's blogs.  All these "words" are adding up to a lot of creativity in 2012.  Here's the list with links to them all.  And a special thank you to Rae Payne for creating our Fly Tribe Word Hop badge.  Enjoy, and be inspired. 

Fly Tribe Get-Together

What an exciting day!  Yesterday in Louisville, I met four fellow classmates from Kelly Rae Roberts e-course "Flying Lessons."  And what a treat!  Kathleen Conrad, Kelley Miller, Kelly Hoernig and Deborah Eaton were all an absolute delight to meet.  We talked for hours (and I do mean HOURS) about art, life and our journeys. 

And if this wasn't exciting enough, the gifts I received took the experience over the top.

 This beautiful tag came from Kelly Hoernig, and she answered all my questions about her process.

A gorgeous pendant with my word (can you believe it -- MY word for 2012!) on it came from Kathleen Conrad.  Of course, I had a ton of questions about her process of using resin which she patiently explained.  A unique reminder to be "organized" in 2012.

Kelley Miller's work has been a favorite of mine since the beginning of the class, and now I have my own original.

I have been truly blessed by all of the caring souls from this class, and to have been able to meet four of them in person was a memorable experience.  Can't wait to do it again, and much thanks to these four beautiful souls.