Studio Diaries: eps 2

Documenting my Fall

Over the past while, I’ve found myself not moving as much as I normally do. I’ve been stretching and strengthening my creativity more than my body and now it is time for a change. To  kick-start my return to moving and grooving, I thought I could use some structure and support so off I went yesterday on an exploratory mission to a local fitness spot.

The experience was great and as I recounted to the director how I’ve been tending (and not tending) my well-being, I knew this was just the right move. She gave me some simple tips for making a good start, from having a protein and a produce at every meal to getting up from my computer every 2 hours to do some simple but effective hip and lower back movement. Perfect.

As I walked home, I was planning a new structure to my day, imagining early morning workouts and then time in the studio for writing. I was feeling encouraged and motivated, ready to make a fresh start right away, when I slipped on a thin covering of snow on the sidewalk. For a moment I caught myself and almost stayed up. Then I lost control again;my feet slipped from beneath me and I landed hard on my hip, a hip with deep memories of old dance injuries and pain.

Ouch.

After that, tending myself looked very different yesterday. I lay down gently and rested, rested, rested, allowing everything in the studio to wait. I get pretty grumpy when I can’t get to it but I had to giggle when my friend Bridget responded to my plight with “My body also tries to injure itself when I mention the gym!”

Today I’m creaky but my hip is improving. I thought it wise to have another gentle day in the studio but managed to get a few things done, like cuddling with the kittens.

One of the best new routines in the studio is morning cuddles with Scout. As soon as I get my coffee, he bounds in before me and jumps on my chair, waiting to crawl into my lap for cuddles. It’s amazing to remember that just 8 months ago he was so skittish we couldn’t get close to him at all. I think he’ll always be high-strung, our Scout, but he’s also a total lovebug.

Give a Girl a Journal Stickers

It was exciting to spend some of the day packaging up journals to send to girls around the world. Today I prepped parcels for girls in Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, Ontario plus India and Australia! There’s nothing like sitting down with a cup of tea and a dream come true!

Cookies for Change

My husband, Justin, also has major changes occurring in his work life and today was a pivotal day. That made it the just-right day for cookies. Thank you to my sister Shannon who just happened to leave a package of Pillsbury chocolate-oatmeal cookie dough in our fridge!

Snow Day

Cookies, journals, change and cuddles: all in all a pretty good day.

Today’s Prompts for Your Studio…

  • What is your body hungering for? How can you give it more of what it needs?
  • If you sit a ton at the computer, set your timer and ever 2 hours get up and move.
  • Cuddle with kittens, if you can. Puppies are good too. (PS “Kittens” and “Puppies” can be terms of endearment for your grown-up furry friends!)
  • Participate in Give a Girl a Journal
  • Bake cookies.
  • Take or make a picture that shows today’s weather.

Sharing Our Journal Stories: Ronna Detrick

In support of Give a Girl a Journal, I’ve invited some dear friends and colleagues to share their personal experience with journaling.

Today I am delighted to share with you the journal story of Ronna Detrick. I’ve watched Ronna’s video several times now and each time it brings tears to my eyes. Ronna has a way of getting to that deep core. Perhaps it is something she learned from experiencing her own truth on the page.

Thank you to Ronna for sharing her story. You can find her at RonnaDetrick.com.

Give a Girl a Journal Badge BlueGive a Girl a Journal and watch her world split open.

Today in the Studio

Writing in the Morning

PS. Originally we had a bit of a problem with the audio but now it’s all sorted! Thank you for your patience.

This morning it was the oddest thing to wake up and not step right into preparation for the BtS. I didn’t choose my earrings or my sweater with thoughts of how recently you’d seen them on the show. I didn’t brush my teeth thinking about what we were going to talk about today. I felt a little at a loss about what to do with all of these ideas and wonderings as they emerge. You know how I love to share. So today I’m writing you a little note from my place to yours, a “studio diary,” if you will. I’m recording it too, in case you prefer to listen. I hope some of today’s little tidbits will inspire something in you and your studio.

Since one of the things I’ve wanted to make room for is my writing, when it came to the time when I normally record the BtS I thought, I damn well better write! I noticed that I quickly got all tangled up in: how should I write, what should I write, where should I write? I started on the computer and it just felt too brainy and so, instead, I pushed the keyboard away and pulled out my current “work in progress” book. I opened to the first free page, set a timer and for a half an hour I wrote. With joy in my heart I wrote.

The quote on the cover of my Work in Progress Journal:

“She is proud and wild and beautiful. Her anger is terrible to behold.”

H is for Hawk quoting Humphrey ap Evans’ Falconry for You

Escher at Bedroom Window

I hung out with Escher a bit this morning. He is starting to spend more time relaxed and open to cuddles and less time running away and raising his paw (though he still does plenty of the latter). Today as I sat with him in the seat by the bedroom window, I felt dreamily like a 16-year-old girl communing with a wild animal, in complete wonderment at the connection. I feel like I am learning a new language with Escher. I think he is the very definition of a highly sensitive being. When he finally does allow you to pet him, he feels so excitable it’s like he’s gong to jump out of his skin. When he simply can’t take it anymore, he runs away. How are you with receiving attention? How are you with holding pleasure?

At lunch I bundled up and took a walk to the post office to put more Give a Girl a Journal journals in the mail. They’re starting to know me at the post office now. They know the mission that I’m on and they try to help me make sure I’m shipping the most affordable way possible. I so appreciate their magic.

Reach for the Stars

And speaking of magic. I couldn’t believe the art I saw along the way! Clearly this sidewalk blessing is a sign for us and our journal girls to reach for the stars! And I plan to do just that. I love looking for blessings and signs! I also love looking for shapes. I’m never without my camera and shapes are one of the things I love to gather as I go. Here’s one I love that I found today.

Shape: Church Window

I think this caught my eye because I have been talking to several clients about the “pie” that makes up their business and that was the shape I saw when looking at this church window from a distance. I keep a sketchbook journal that I fill with drawings of shapes like this. I just load them up on the page and enjoy the randomness of how they come together. Leaves and a boat. A window and a whale. The number 3 and a poppy and a dog. I love looking back over them and drawing and redrawing shapes that I love over and over again.

Sketch Church WindowAnd speaking of love…

Shannon's Candy Bowl

My sister Shannon has recently moved into a new place and this past weekend she had all of the things she’s had in storage for two years brought to her new home.  She’s been letting go of some things and enjoying being reunited with others and is letting her decisions on what to keep be governed by what she loves. Today she posted this vibrant shot of an in-use candy bowl and I could just feel the happy. It’s motivating me to look at all of my own things through the same lens.

What a rich day! And here are a couple of odds and sods, as my dad would call them.

Excited About…

As I find new channels for my creative work, I’m excited about:

  • Writing a Book (or two… or four)
  • Starting a Journal Club in March. (Join the studio if this feels like something you’d be interested in)
  • Offering a new class about Uncovering (or Recovering) the Story of Your Creative Heart (watch for that in April)

Thinking about…

“Art, especially the stage, is an area where it is impossible to walk without stumbling. There are in store for you many unsuccessful days and whole unsuccessful seasons: there will be great misunderstandings and deep disappointments… you must be prepared for all this, expect it and nevertheless, stubbornly, fanatically follow your own way.” Anton Chekhov

Today’s Prompts for Your Studio…

  • Set a timer for 30 minutes and write.
  • How are you with receiving attention?
  • How are you with holding pleasure?
  • How will you reach for the stars today?
  • Look for signs & blessings.
  • Gather shapes with your camera.
  • Gather shapes in your sketchbook
  • What are the pie pieces that make up your business? Your life?
  • What if you went through your things and decided to keep and use only the things you truly love?
  • What are you excited about?
  • What are you thinking about?

Sharing Our Journal Stories: Hali Karla

In support of Give a Girl a Journal, I’ve invited some dear friends and colleagues to share their personal experience with journaling.

Today I am delighted to share with you the journal story of artist Hali Karla, who has found journaling to be a life-long friend and a life-long healer and a live-long infusion of empowerment.

Thank you to Hali for sharing her story. You can find her at Hali Karla Arts.Give a Girl a Journal Badge Blue

If you give a Girl a Journal, she will empower her life.

stART: New Ventures and Cupcakes

 

Every couple of weeks I film stART: Creating as We Go with my two sisters, Suzie and Shannon. We share our creative projects, from challenges to celebrations, and support each other’s creative lives. We hope we’ll inspire you to get creating too!

In episode 598, we have new projects, like Give a Girl a Journal, and we’re returning to old favourites, like jewellery and pottery for Suzie, and Shannon is in a whole new location!

In this episode we mention:

Keep up-to-date with stART: Creating As We Go

 

Sharing Our Journal Stories: Sherri Hutchins

In support of Give a Girl a Journal, I’ve invited some dear friends and colleagues to share their personal experience with journaling.

Today I am delighted to share with you the journal story of Sherri Hutchins from livewonderstruck.com and workwonderstruck.com. Sherri knows first-hand the power of being introduced to the gifts of journaling as a girl.

Thank you to Sherri for sharing her story.

Give a Girl a Journal Badge Red

If you give a Girl a Journal, you give her the space to unpack her mind.