a tiny bit of art

from my retreat at Manitou Beach.

I was totally inspired here and here before leaving on my art retreat and thought how much fun it would be to start a similiar project while retreating from the world. in preparation, I chose to sort through most of  my paper stash. a wonderful start to organizing that a little bit. I did not have washi tape in bright colours, but did find some pink polka dot duck tape in Saskatoon. it also made a good excuse to order more of a supply. though I knew it would not arrive in time for my get away, I truly thought it would be good to get some mail love after my return. 

one of my fave songs which made me pause, and nearly always brought tears to my eyes as it played on my ipod.
this favourite usually seemed to make me feel comforted.
and this kept me entertained additionally, as I preferred to stay away from the television as much as possible.

"If you can attain repose and calm, believe that you have seized happiness."
    Julie-Jeanne-Eleonore de Lespinasse

time to myself

time to create. time to live in the moment. for bits of time anyway.

 peonies. daisies. dragons. robins. butterflies. dragonflies.

 sunlight. trees. wind. thunder. storms. safety.

fireflies. magic. first time ever. wonderment.

time to myself.  
                                  
                                       ************* 

Please find a fabulous give-away at my friend Cat's post.

Creative endeavours to be shared in future posts. Hoping you are able to find moments to yourself, moments for creating and time to be within the moment.
Angels be with you dear friends.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
    with your one wild and precious life?” 

Mary Oliver

June rushing by

Seems as though June has been rushing by. I can hardly believe that today is June 24 already. It is kind of a special day. Today would have been my parents 65th wedding anniversary. Makes me think about having lost my Dad in February and also about the wonderful love my Dad and Mom had for each other. That love remained until the end.
Through the month of June I have been reminded of my own love for my parents and the importance of family. Ten of us were able to gather on June 16 for a short time to celebrate my Mom's 88th birthday. Father's day followed the next day. The day came with its challenges because of the memories and other reasons. However, I have sensed my Dad's presence in numerous ways. Sometime earlier in June I was blessed with the visit of a baby dove which seemed to feel little concern of my coming near. The baby stayed close for a time and I was able to gain what strength and contentment I was able.

Butterflies have also been in close proximity quite often and while they seem not interested in having their pictures taken, I am reminded of the transformations happening so much over the past months.
 I pause to realize that these wonderful large butterflies would not be so visible if we did not have the multitude of perennial flowers and trees in our yard which my own husband and I spent years on planting, loving and nurturing. Love.
Also if I did not spend so much time outdoors as I do, those butterflies would not be so apparent to me. I LOVE the outdoors and nature. But you already probably know that. As the days go rushing by, this month I find whatever opportunity I am able to be with nature, with the sun shining down or the clouds biding their time. The wind sometimes speaks to me. Sometimes I have no patience to listen, other times I try to sing along.
Trips to Saskatoon can sometimes be stressful. We try to make them as relaxed as we are able. Last Friday allowed for a visit to the Mendel Art Gallery in which we only spent a little bit of time, but we purchased some fancy sandwiches and went to the park area close to the river. Relaxing. Mindful. Sunshine glorifying.

Art has been sporadic though I have found some time to paint with total abandon on our front sidewalk.

And these two journal pages have also been a part of my recent creativity.

I now have nearly everything packed after numerous decisions and much thought, for my retreat at Manitou Beach. I will be mainly away from the computer so will be back to you after my return. 

Angel blessings dear friends.

a little bit of art and some exciting plans

I am beginning to get very excited about my annual art retreat when I get to spend time by myself with an opportunity to be away from the typical demands of everyday life. I was very concerned, until a very few days ago, about the retreat. The cottage this normally occurred in had been sold last fall. We went in search of a light housekeeping unit in the same beach area. At first the prospects did not seem promising. Then we did find a place. It is tiny with very little table and counter space. But still it is a space. Still I can have my retreat. Still I can plan to do art, but only when I truly feel like doing art. Maybe for that week my art will be in my dreams and mindfulness. 

In the meantime I continue to sometimes straggle on and sometimes burst forth with energy and creativity beyond imagining. I have remembered how much I love my outdoor times and gardening. I have learned that when I am extremely frustrated, the choice to go cut down numerous small trees growing in our back garden, and pull up unwanted grass, can be a very good choice. Yes, my shoulders get a little sore and my blood sugars tend to do their usual bouncing but still a good choice.

Below are some very small marker portraits in a water colour paper journal from the past days, with water used to spread the colours.

 The following work in progress continues to offer a beginning with which to work. The very obvious misconstruance of the placement of the girl's head gives me pause to wonder, when I even realize how wrong it is. I think I have decided to not change it. I have come to realize I have placed it where it is probably for a reason. I had no perception for the longest time of what I had drawn. Even now, when I come back to it, I have forgotten about the placement of that smaller head. No longer will I forget. I will explain to you next time I post the picture, hopefully in final stages. I will try to describe my thoughts about it. I suspect the picture will raise its own meaning for you.

And finally to reassure* that I am still sometimes in that bright and cheery warm colours mode, here is part of a background I have been working on together with a book from a few years ago which has numerous quotations as well as my happiness for the day recordings. The background is on a map that came with the ledger book I have been altering for an art journal book. It is a phone exchange map for a part of our province. The map is perfect for providing background lines and words.
*my friends like Jeanne

Angel blessings my friends.

retreat time

Every year in June I am very fortunate to go on a retreat at nearby Manitou Beach. I adore the solitude and opportunity to do art and writing. This year I am taking my sewing machine along and jewelry supplies. Of course I will also take a few paints.
I hope to return feeling refreshed and energetic. I know that inspiration is always close at hand.
May angels be with you.

retreat:
I'm all packed and ready to go for my annual retreat at Manitou Beach. I've been so fortunate for about the past 10 years to have part of a week by myself to just write and paint and read and go for long walks.
I've been busy.



I will be doing a tutorial on the May journal quilt soon after I get back, I think.




















Angels be with you,
Wendy