By day, I'm a substitute teacher.  By night and weekend, I'm an artist.  But now that I think about it, I'm ALWAYS an artist...I just hang my artist's beret at various places throughout the day!

Today, I was subbing for one of the kindergarten teachers at our school.  During "circle time", we went over the calendar, weather, how many days left in the school year, etc.  Then we got to "what season is it?"  Well, the little guys immediately went right into spring...forget winter, they want SPRING!!!

I'm not sure if we'll get any more snow here in Meridian, Idaho (neighbor to Boise), because we certainly could, but I've gotta tell you - these kinders today are ready for SPRING!  "What do you do in Spring, that you don't do in winter?" I asked them. You should have hear them!  Excitement in their voices, they offered, "plant stuff!", "play basketball with  my dad", "ride my bike", "play in the rain!".  One after the other, they gave me their ideas for fun in the spring.

That got me to thinking...hmm....what am I going to do this spring?

Some creative friends and I just met this past weekend, to discuss the first part of The Artist's Way.  That's one thing I'm doing this spring...meeting with these fine ladies monthly to discuss one of my favorite books. Also, between now and the next snow (or summer, whichever comes first...you never know, here in Idaho!) I can take advantage of the little park down the street, and take some walks.  Also, I have a hankerin' to be making more mixed media pieces, so I'll get out my supplies and see what I can come up with for my Etsy site.  Oh!  And I'll create some more designs for my RedBubble site!  I already have several that I need my photographer (Kathleen Bowman of Shekinah Photography) to photograph for RedBubble.

Wow, looks like I have my own Spring Fun List!  How about you?  What are you going to do this spring?

"Second Chances"

     I read a quote by Scott Adams recently.  It goes like this: Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

     I don't know whether he was talking about art, itself, or life, in general.  But as an artist, I'll view it from the art perspective. I asked myself how many pieces of art I've made that I thought were mistakes. There were several!  And, because of the cost of the materials, I've kept those mistakes with the intent of one day reworking them with the hopes of ending up with something I feel good about. I figured, sometimes I need to walk away from a piece I'm creating, so that when I return to it I have a fresh perspective.  This always works, and I'm able to craft something worthy of keeping, something even good enough to sell.

     In fact, I recently took a canvas that was a "mistake", one that had been sitting off to the side for over a year, and told myself I was going to "fix" it.  And I did!  I'd looked up the submission themes for one of my favorite art magazines, Somerset Studio.  One of the choices interested me and I immediately pictured the end result of my submission.  But, what canvas would I use?  Ah-ha!  That "mistake" that was sitting off to the side, just waiting for some attention!

     Long story short, I took that canvas and reworked it to the point that I felt really good about it.  Next day, I was standing in line at the Post Office, waiting to send it off to Somerset Studio!  I have no idea whether they will like it as much as I do, but it felt really good to take a mistake and turn it into a work of art!

    Ah, the empty page.  Pure, white. Yet-to-be discovered words waiting to be stamped in ink upon the pulp which gazes back at me.
    Printed on my journal cover is "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined." Thoreau wrote that.
    The world of writing awaits me.  I am eager for the challenge. I am ready for the challenge.

     Ahh, journaling! The blank pages await as I prepare to write.  I put on my fuzzy slippers, fill my tall water bottle with delicious frosty water, grab my favorite snuggly blanket to wrap around me to keep warm, and turn on my adorable "bunny light", (a ceramic bunny with pink floral lamp shade). I sit in my comfy recliner, take up my pen, and greet the page.  Hello, paper!  Hello, nothingness!  Let me fill you up, I say, as I begin to record my ponderings.

     Pnderings need not make sense.  They need not be profound.  They just need to be honest, authentic, and from the heart. Whatever's on my mind at the time. Part of me.  Even if they only say things like "I wish I could crawl back into bed." "I really don't want to go to work today." "I don't think I face traffic today." Or, "my back hurts too much to go to work." "Can you believe it's raining again?" "What was I thinking yesterday, wearing those shoes?  They killed my feet!"

     But other mornings might bring "Would you look at that snow...it makes me smile!" Or, "That little girl made my day yesterday when she gave me her drawing with hearts on it.  I'm going to put it on my fridge." "I think I'll start my new canvas today" Or, "That does it...I am going to submit a piece to Somerset Studio magazine this month! Maybe I'll get published again!"

     So, nothing necessarily profound, just whatever comes to mind.  Putting thoughts onto paper gets them out of my head and onto the page, where I can see them and do something with them. If they're negative or not-too-helpful thoughts, getting them out of my head leaves room for helpful thoughts.  It frees up my mind for possibilities. That's what happened the two times I last submitted canvases to Somerset Studio...I was published...TWICE! That's what happened when I decided to actually WRITE the book that was bumbling around in my head. Now it's ready to submit to an agent, for possible publication!

     Ponderings.  Things that might not be important.  Things that end up being important.  Either way, words from my head that end up on the page.  Words...perhaps not all profound or life shattering, but important, nevertheless.

Hello, fellow Creatives!
!    It's been a while since I've posted here.  Health issues, the busyness of work, excuses, yada-yada.  No real reasons, however.  Just me letting life get in the way.
     Some days I get home from work and tell myself I have nothing left to give my creative business.  I
A natural "morning person", I truly do burn out by about 3:00pm, and find that my creativeness wanes by then.  But something I've been trying lately, is getting up very early (not hard for  me, as I have insomnia).  I turn on all the lights to simulate daylight, which makes me smile, and I get busy.
     I typically have my precious "quiet time", alone w/God.  I read and pray and basically just get my head in the right place to begin my day.  Then I work out, which wakes me up even more, and keeps me full of energy for most of my work day.  Exercise also helps keep my mind alert, which I definitely need as a substitute teacher!
     I find that I then still have plenty of time for my creative art biz.  I might work up some new designs for my Red Bubble site, or prepare for the adult drawing class I teach, or my adult mixed media classes I teach.  I might do some reading that inspires me.  I may treat myself to my "FLYING LESSONS" ebook by Kelly Rae Roberts.  (I highly recommend your getting this!)  I may take some precious time and write my Morning Pages, something I learned to do from the wonderful book The Artist's Way.
     If you've never had the opportunity to read this book, treat yourself to a copy.  Your life will be changed by it;  mine certainly was.  It's all about getting in touch with the inner artist that lives within each of us, even if we don't consider ourselves creative. Barnes and Noble carries it, or I'm sure you could find it on Amazon. In it, author Julia Cameron encourages readers to do something she calls writing Morning Pages - three daily pages of whatever comes to your mind.  Brain drain.  Recording frustrations, inspirations, ideas, goals.  Whatever, just get it on the page...three of them. Do this every  morning.  Every morning.
     I have done this over the years, and have found great benefit.  Somehow, I got out of the habit but am doing it again.  I need to.  I want to.  I sooo benefit from the writing.
     Try it yourself.  It will change your life.  As you write, new inspiration will seep up out of your inner being.  You'll be amazed at the ideas that will pour forth....creative ideas.  A new recipe to try, a new item of clothing to sew.  A new color of paint to try.  That class you've been afraid to take.
     I have an idea: let's do it together!  Wonderful, creativeness awaits!  More on this next time!  I'll share what's happened as a result of my own experience with my Morning Pages.  Until then....

     Hello, friends.  Have you ever journaled?  I have, and really enjoy it.  But lately, I've been busy art-making for my Red Bubble site ( https://www.redbubble.com/people/LauraCLeMaster/portfolio ) and have neglected my journals.  Plus, I've been writing a book, which took much of my time.
     But, as a creative, I get bored easily.  I now find myself ready for a break from writing my book (good timing, as the manuscript is finished!).  I hear my journal calling.  I don't yet art journal, although that method of art making and creative expression is beckoning me, too.  But I have a "regular journal" that says "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you've imagined" on the cover.  Thoreau wrote that.  It inspires me.  It resonates with me.  I calls me to do exactly that:  believe in my dreams.  Do whatever it takes to make them happen.  And actually live the life I've imagined.
     It's an exciting place to be.  My empty pages await....

     Hello, creative minded friends!
     It's a beautiful, bright morning in Idaho.  Being from Southern California - North San Diego County, to be exact - I am used to palm trees, constant blue sky, and sea breezes - and a LOT of people!  But oh, how I've come to love Idaho's cauliflower clouds that decorate the expansive sky.  Because of the slower pace, job market, job opportunities, and more conservative outlook, my area is rapidly growing.  I'm not too enthused about that, because the amount of traffic has increased quite a bit in the time I've been here, as has the amount of in-a-hurry drivers.  (I figure they're all imports from big cities!  LOL)  Yet, if you happen to be needing to pull out into traffic from a side street or shopping area, for instance, drivers within the flow of traffic will ALWAYS let you in!  What a delicious reality!  You hardly ever hear someone honking at another driver, which was the norm in SoCal.  But Californians, I noticed, were warm and friendly, just as are Idahoans.  In many coastal cities, there was a delightfully slower pace, in spite of the amount of traffic and shortage of parking.  The weather is almost always perfect.
     So, fast pace, or slow pace...clouds or no clouds, traffic or not so much traffic, mild weather or snow storms...if we have an inner attitude of gratitude, if we set our own pace in spite of that around us, if we choose to see the good in where we live, if we choose to notice the warmth of strangers around us...we can find contentment.  We can make a difference in our corner of the world.  If someone honks at me, or hurries past me on the road, perhaps going over the speed limit, I have learned to think, "been there"..".maybe there's an emergency in their life".  "Maybe they're just having a bad day, like I've certainly had on occasion."  My challenge is to not react negatively, because if I do, someone else sees that and may react negatively, creating a chain reaction of not-so-good-ness.  My actions and reactions can affect someone else's day and I want them to do that in a positive way, thus making a positive difference.
     I also strive to make a difference with my artwork.  I aim to put "good stuff", "happy stuff" out there in my world, to encourage you, inspire you, and enable you to, in turn, impact those with whom you rub elbows - in a positive way.
     I hope this little bit of stuff has blessed you.  You certainly do bless me by reading my ponderings.  Have a beautiful day, won't you?  Oh, and go out and look at the sky today....and give it a big smile!

     Oh my, it's been a while since my last blog post.  I let the busy-ness of life overcome me:  my new job as substitute teacher wore me out and I let the "I'm sooo tired" excuse keep me from posting.  Then, I had  knee replacement surgery, which took me out of commission for a while.  Understandable reasons not to write, but no excuse to let my absence continue.  So, hello!  Here I am once again!
     It's so good to be back so that I can share my life and creative journey with you. As you know, if you've read my other posts or have perused my creative art biz facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/LauratheArtiste/   I read a lot and love quotes.  And as you may know from this blog, I purchased Kelly Rae Roberts' ebook "Flying Lessons" last year.  In reading from it the other day, I made note of a book she highly recommends:  Steven Pressfield's The War of Art.  I put it on hold at my local library and was so excited when I got the call that it was in!  I picked it up yesterday and am already almost halfway through it.  I'd like to share with you something from it.
     Pressfield talks about Resistance being what keeps us from attaining our creative goals and dreams.  That makes sense to me.  I've experienced a LOT of resistance on my path to creativity.  But he says that "The more important a call or action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it." That really resonated with me.  If something doesn't really matter to us, why would Resistance need to bother us?  Why would it need to try to thwart our efforts with the unimportant?  It wouldn't.
     So, I pondered this idea of his...and realized that my pursuit of having a successful creative art biz that makes a difference in people's lives in some way...is IMPORTANT!  Why?  Because Resistance has been raising it's extremely ugly head and has been pestering me like crazy!
     That said, I also realize how exciting that fact is.  If I weren't on the right track, I'd be smoothly sailing along with nothing holding me back.  But because God has let me know that I have a voice and that I need to do what it takes creatively to make that voice heard, Resistance has been working overtime in an attempt to keep that voice from being heard.
     The voice I wish to use is one of encouragement and inspiration.  Life out there can be tough, as we all well know.  I want to use humor, wisdom, and hope to encourage women to look for the positive and the good in life.  As a Christian, I believe that that Good is God.  Not all of my viewers are believers, however, but it's my hope and motivation that they may still be excited and uplifted by my artwork.
     Nice chatting with you.  Until next time....may creativity and hope abound in your life!

     I make it a point to check in with myself regularly and ask "am I going where I want to be going?" It's easy to get sidetracked, distracted, pulled off-course. But on the road to success (where we want to go), there ARE often distractions. That's just life. I remind myself that I need to continually refocus and bring myself back on course.
     But God sometimes reminds me that there's often a lesson to be learned in these distractions and detours. Sometimes they're an important part of the journey, and are there for a valuable purpose. I, however, often fail to see the purpose until I've gone through the detour. I get frustrated and even angry that I'm not heading in the direction I think I need to be going. Are you ever like that? I forget that the last distraction, bump in the road, detour, actually taught me something that was of benefit to me or others.
     God often works that way. He gives me an idea of where I should go, leads me in what directions I should take, and lets me travel along for a while before bringing me to a sign that reads "This Way Next" I turn onto that path, then get my panties in a twist when I determine that the road isn't taking me where I want to go....or IS taking me where I want to go, but is taking longer than I think it should take!
Detours I take are, thankfully, never out of God's control. But sometimes they're the result of my being bull-headed. I often get something into my head and blast on ahead, asking God to bless my idea and come along for the ride. it must be God's will if I prayed for direction, right? Ha! Never mind that I didn't WAIT for direction, but plowed ahead with my own idea before consulting Him or waiting for His answer or input!
     A number of things can take me off course. but having a clear goal (where I need to be/go/do) helps me get started. I want God to be the One Who gives me my goals. And I need to continually check in with Him for guidance and direction. I need to remember that HE is in control of my journey. Any bumps along the way can be lessons learned...even if they're of my own feeble doing.

     "In (her) heart a (wo)man plans (her) course, but the Lord determines (her) steps."  Proverbs 16:9
My prayer:  "Lord, help me stay in step with You."

Today's "from me to thee" is: a lovely photographic stroll through my sister's website, Kathleen Bowman Photography.  I just took this tour and had a colorful, wonderful time looking at her images of flowers (my faves), wildlife (her faves), and just downright gorgeous landscape shots!  Go ahead and check these out.  Treat yourself to some beauty today.  "From me to thee".

     Those of you who know me and follow me on facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/LauratheArtiste/ know that I love artist Kelly Rae Roberts' view of the artistic journey.  I was just looking through her book "Taking Flight...Inspiration & Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings" and her introduction spoke to me.  Here's part of it & I hope it resonates with you as much as it did, me:

     "I am just like you.  A girl who is always learning.  A woman whose soul is vibrant with inspiration.  A creative spirit that is expressive and sensitive.  We are all connected, intertwining in this creative life.  It's because of this that I believe in the power of telling our stories - the stories of how we muster up our courage and leap and dance and breathe our way into our creative dreams.  This is how we learn from one another. How we inspire one another.  How we begin to finally see the potential and possibilities that live inside our hearts."

     I love that, and it's so true.  If this hit you in your own creative soul, I'd love to hear about it on my facebook page...would love to!

     Springtime means flowers!  I love the beauty of flowers, even though my lungs don't always enjoy them...it's an asthma thing.
     I enjoy using flowers in my artwork, and do so in a variety of ways.  It's fun to wad up a paper towel into a little rosette, dab it in a two or three colors of coordinating paint, and then made loose twists of paint onto the canvas, creating a delightful flower!
     Sometimes while out taking a walk, I'll collect flowers in my pockets (or, if I remember to, I'll take along a baggie w/me).  When back home, I press them in a phone book, between pieces of wax paper.  When dry, I them slip them into separate baggies w/a piece of lightweight cardboard, for support.  Those photo storage boxes from Michaels are perfect for storing them.  This method keeps them safe until I want to use them on a canvas....nothing like a beautiful 3-D accent to make your piece come alive! (I love it when a customer says, "wow...are those real flowers?!?"
     Another fun thing to do is to dry a flower on its stem & use it (gently!) for a bookmark.  (Sturdier flowers work best.)  It's also fun to dry them in books on your bookshelf.  They make a nice surprise for when you read that lucky book!
     One of my specialties, for which my artwork is known, is to creatively paint sturdy paper (I like to use cardstock), let it dry, and cut out flower shapes.  I then use markers and pens to add amazing, interesting details.  Sometimes I'll double them up, creating "double decker", stacked flowers.  These delightful, handmade flowers are then applied to my canvas.  If I want a 3-D effect, which I usually do!, I'll just bend the petals to make the flowers "pop" off the canvas!  The flowers can be placed along the sides of the canvas, as well, to create a nice wrap around effect to your piece.
     As you can see, I love using flowers in my artwork!  I'd love to hear how you use them in your work, at:
https://www.facebook.com/LauratheArtiste/
      Enjoy your Spring!

Hello friends,
     I visited my mom recently and had a fun time spending time with her. While chatting, she showed me a mail order catalog with pictures of her favorite chocolate (we'd been talking about our love for all things sweet!) Was the catalog a hint?  Well, it got me thinking about upcoming Mother's Day & I decided to (surprise) her with some of her favorite goodies.
     That led to my wondering what I could offer you as gift ideas for your moms!  Here is one of my designs (entitled "GROW") which you can find on my REDBUBBLE site; it can be made into a wide variety of goodies for Mom.  Travel mugs, tote bags, clocks, greeting cards, cosmetic bags,  journals/notebooks, even iphone skins!  Check out this and all of my other designs at:

     https://redbubble.com/people/LauraCLeMaster/portfol

Another "from me to thee" goody.  Enjoy!
(BTW, this piece was inspired by part of a work by Laurie Mika, as seen in Kelly Rae Roberts' book "Taking Flight")

Another "from me to thee" offering!  Since my REDBUBBLE site is up and operational now, I'm excited to let you know about some of my goodies that will make the perfect Mother's Day gifts.  Does Mom love her coffee?...how 'bout a travel mug w/one of my unique designs?  You may also select a throw pillow, iphone skin, studio bag, clock, frameable print, or tote bag.  Options galore!  Check out my designs at:  http://www.redbubble.com/people/LauraCLeMaster/portfolio

     It's springtime in the Treasure Valley, Idaho.  While driving to work today I was delighted to see all the brightly colored tulips alongside the road, popping up out of the soil with such enthusiasm.  Other types of flowers are doing the same, and although I don't know their names, I still enjoy them.  Some pink crocuses even surprised me the other day by greeting me as I stepped outside my front door.  There they were, waving their bright, kelly green arms, smiling up at me with their pretty little bloom-faces...such a delight.
     Don't you just love flowers and all the fabulous colors they come in?  I'm inspired:  maybe I'll do a series of floral canvases...I do have a huge, heavy box FULL of blank canvases and canvas boards, after all.
     I hear my worktable a-callin'.

     Do you like to journal...whether it be written-only, or art journaling?  I sure do.  I love to write in my journal, even though I haven't found the time lately.  I've filled so many journals over the years that I couldn't begin to count them.  There are boxes of them, all filled up, off getting dusty somewhere. Some were store bought with elaborate covers, some came to me as delicious gifts from people I love, some have the prettiest of bookmarks attached, some I even created myself, but they're all FULL!  Full of my hopes, my dreams, my ramblings, and my daring, brave goals.
     Lately, life has been sooo biz-y with valid, important things that I've ignored this just-as-important, tiny little inner tug I've been feeling.  My sweet little inner artist has been gently pulling on my creative hem, asking me in the quietest of whispers (she very polite and doesn't like to holler) "Mom, don't you think it's time to start writing again?"  Sad to say, I've chosen to focus on my biz-iness and have repeatedly ignored. her.
     Well, today I felt a jolt - more of a hard jerk than a polite tug, really - on the hem of my artisticness.  (I just made up a word)  I even heard that polite little inner artist give a great, big uncharacteristic YELL:  "HEY!!!, are you listening to me!?!?!"  Oops!  Nope.
     So, just now, I went and hunted down my "next" journal. (it took some hunting!)  I bought it some time ago & only recently found it in storage, where it's been since I moved four years ago.  I'd bought it because of  the quote on its front:  "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you've imagined."  Thoreau said that.
     Well, I have dreams.  I'm usually a pretty confident gal (although I've been known on occasion to suffer from the affliction called FEAR).  And I'm moving forward with my new online art biz (thanks to the help I'm getting from my new ecourse from Kelly Rae Roberts:  "Flying Lessons:  Let's Make Your Creative Biz Soar!").  I am, indeed, moving toward living the life I've imagined.  And you know what?.. I'm oh soooo glad you've come along with me on this, the journey of my exciting, new, creative life!
     Hey, I think I'll even go write about this in my new/old journal!  Do you have one?  C'mon, let's journal together!

     Happy Birthday to me!  An hour ago I turned...nevermind how old.  Not a glass of water big enough to swallow that pill!  But wait a minute...what is a number, anyway?  Society and Hollywood would have us believe that the best numbers are in the lower range, and when those digits get up to a certain point, look out!  BAM!  Honey, you're TOO old! And the moment we glimpse our first wrinkle in the mirror, we are dooooomed!
     What's wrong with our culture?  When did we start believing that life is only good until you hit 30?  I regret to say that when I was in my 20's I started to buy in to what "they" told me.  That I had to look this or that way, wear these clothes but for Pete's sake never THOSE clothes!  I didn't act on what "they" told me and everyone else to do ...but I caught myself thinking I SHOULD do all "they" said I should do.
     I should be saying "forget Hollywood, what's wrong with ME?"  I bought into all those lies for all those years. Whenever I looked in the mirror I told myself I was allll wrong. I believed that I didn't measure up because I was this and not that.  That I wasn't this but was that.  Oh brother.  All that wasted time worrying about what other people thought.
     I read this somewhere:  "wrinkles are merely memories of where smiles have been."  I love that.  My mirror tells me that I have smiled a lot in my life.  And I like that.  Poo on vanity.  I'll take wisdom, insight, and friends I've known more than 40 years.
     OK, in the spirit of REAL vulnerabilty and honesty....here goes.  I am now 60 years old.  Eegads.  That didn't even hurt....too much!.
     Happy Birthday, Baby!

Churchill's Wisdom

     Churchill once said "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."  If you're like me, you've tripped and fallen a few times in your life.  I really don't like to think about those times, or think of myself as a failure but, according to Churchill, the key is to keep up our steam...to pick ourselves up after falling, dust off those knees, and keep going.  It's important to keep looking forward to where we want to go vs. concentrating on where we just fell.  I've actually benefited from my failures when I've thought about how I can do things differently next time I'm faced with a similar decision, situation, whatever.
     As an artist, I've also found this to be true.  I try a new painting method for a background on a canvas that doesn't work, or I try out a design that's maybe a bit different from my usual style.  I've even tried participating in certain art fairs that I doubted would be a good fit for my work, and later thought "eegads, I'll never do THAT again!".  But that's the point, isn't it?  I'll never do that AGAIN.  I love that in the workroom, or in life, we can learn by our mistakes.  We can look at the canvas of our lives and reflect on how this or that may or may not have worked in the best way.  And we can move forward with that in mind, making better, more informed decisions based on what we learned from our failures.
     Churchill knew what he was talking about..

Hello creative friends,
     I went to my physical therapist yesterday (recovering from a fall @ work).  He twisted me into a pretzel to stretch my back & I must have said ouch because he asked "sorry, does this hurt?"  I told him "yes, but it's a 'good ow'."  My muscles were being stretched in a way they weren't used to being stretched.  I've been in such pain lately that my body instinctively tightened here and pinched there, in an effort to accommodate my injury.  So, when Brett twisted me, I said "ow".  It was good for me and, in a way, felt good.  But it was still an "ow" because those muscles weren't used to being stretched like that.  Not in the correct way.
     In a similar way, my art biz is stretching my creative muscles.  At times, they pinch.  At times, they say "ow".  But sometimes, they say "ahhhhh, that's a good 'ow'!"  They're learning to move in a different way and are being stretched.  I'm learning.  I'm growing as an artist.  As a businesswoman.  It sometimes smarts, but, overall, it's a really good stretch...a really good "ow"!

try this one!  https://www.facebook.com/LauratheArtiste/