Meet Patience..

If you read the post below this one you will understand exactly how this doll got her name. Her and I struggled every bit of the way, but she taught me so much . She is my very first cloth and clay doll .

Begin Again..

I know I haven't posted in a while .The truth is I have been struggling with myself and art. I took a Cloth and Clay doll class . I was excited to begin. I had never sewn before or worked with clay .I got out the little sewing machine and I taught myself from you tube how to get it going. It wasn't perfect but I thought ok , It's not to bad .I then moved onto clay over the fabric . I worked and worked and worked and I was very unhappy with the result. The face was not attractive at all. I walked out of that room covered in clay looking disheveled and beaten.My husband looked at me standing at the top of the stairs and said"what In the world"? At that moment I said to myself "You are not an Artist" . I told myself I just was not good enough. I whined and swore I was not going to create anymore. Then the clouds parted and the sun came out .... Ok , it didn't, but I was reminded by a very recent post and then another that I am not alone . Trying to embrace your mistakes and be a beginner is not easy. It hard not to compare yourself to others and to live with the awkwardness of learning. It's hard when your inner critic is breathing down your back to keep going . Art seems to bring up all my inner issues. Perfectionism and control do not mix well with art but what are my options ? I can quit or find my way through. Thank you Tracy for reminding me that I am not alone . I will find my way through this .I will just begin again.

Wedding Planning and some Artful Inspiration..

We are in full wedding planning mode.My daughter is getting married July 17th. She also has senior prom AND graduation . We found her wedding gown this week ,picked out the bridesmaids dresses , flower girl dresses and today it's all about the Cake.I have alot of mixed feelings .This will be my first to leave the" nest". I love the man she is marrying but I still think she is so young (19) . My sister is her "Wedding planner". I just really don't know alot about the whole wedding process. I have been married for 23 years and I got married for 25 dollars at the courthouse . So weddings are a little out of my element . Plus I have been accused of having ideas over budget (LOL). Imagine that?? When we all went to Michaels this week to check a few wedding things, I was distracted by art supplies. What do they expect right?

The above photos are of the castle where she is getting married . She is having her wedding outdoors.We visited there again this week too . My sister had to do all these little things there that I really know nothing about.

On another note....

Here are a few things I find inspiring this week.

I fell in love with these prayer boxes as soon as I saw them. Nancye was so sweet to put together a little class on her art doll site .If you want to learn to make these you can!

Also aren't we all looking to find our own voice as artist's ? I have been waiting for this Gut Art class by Mystele.It is all about learning to find who you are as an artist. So if you are interested check it out! I have alot to say on "Finding your own voice" but right now I just don't have the right words to put a voice to mine. I do have faith that we all have our own and with a little searching I think we all have something uniquely creative and authentic to offer.I will do a post on this later.
Another Place I have been finding inspiration lately is Kat Ostrow . There is something about her work that draws me in and ignites this passion in me to find my own way. I love the looseness in her work .It stirs something in myself that I can't get to right now. So go visit her.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to find lots of inspiration of your own !

A Queen..

Practice for Suzi Blu's Piety &Passion class. I did it on watercolor paper instead of wood for now to practice some of the techniques. Not completely pleased but I am sharing anyway.