Queen of Dreams Radio
Posts Tagged ‘Violette’
Most of you who read my blog know I love art. I come by this naturally as my mother is an artist or what Spirit calls, a craftsman artisan, meaning that she works with her hands and is more of a ‘craftswoman’ than a ‘fine’ artist. She has sewn, painted, woodworked her way through life, and I often came along for the ride. My nature is to ‘finish’ things…in the StrengthsFinder talents, this is called an achiever. My art tends to look like things I can open and close in a single session. When I get out to my mom’s workshop, my achiever goes crazy wanting to finish all of her projects, but she, like me, works from inspiration. If I am inspired, I can start and finish anything. If I lose my inspiration anywhere along the process, I’m done. So is she.
When Minette and I did our 5-month project with Violette’s journal bliss online class (highly recommended!), I learned how to focus in on starting and finishing a single ‘step’ and to be happy with that.
Most recently, I took that wisdom and applied it to a Zentangle project I was inspired to create for a friend. The first night, I collected all of the pieces I would use to create the ‘shape.’ Then, I flipped through a Zentangle pattern book to see which patterns felt good. Then I slept on it.
The next day, I started with the motif, and filled in the rest of the pattern.
The next day I started Zentangling and did not want to stop, so I didn’t. 10 hours later, it was finished.
Inspiration can fuel us to the greatest heights! In inspiration, time slows down and evaporates.
If you have not discovered ZENTANGLES, please go to the site now. I have always loved to draw in pen and this is a new twist on that art form. I am forever grateful to Minette for introducing me to it!
I also am including some pictures of my art date with Sally Felt where we created jewelry! She commented that she thought it was interesting I flipped through a book, found something I liked and said, “I’m going to make this” without any regard of whether I would be able to according to my current jewelry making abilities. That’s where my mom’s influence stepped in… if we can ‘see it,’ we can usually create it!
By far, one of the best things about crafting together is the conversations that flow upward in the creative energy. I hope you will try this out for yourself if you feel pulled to do so!
Can you believe Sally made EVERY single one of those line pieces? Isn’t this so pretty? 
I made some heart earrings with rose quartz.
Looking for a Dream Life:
Friday, I went to Minette’s house for an art playdate. I felt so excited because I knew we were going to do a ‘thank you’ video for Violette because her online class, Journal Bliss, literally gave us 5 months of art-full play! I highly recommend grabbing a friend and getting one of her classes (Violette’s energy gave us a creative confidence boost and inspired us!).
While we created the video, I looked over and saw one of Minette’s Zentangle gift cards. She has made many of these over the last year or so (and they are all GORGEOUS), and last year, even invited me to a Zentangle class where I was introduced to this thoughtful, meditative creative expression.
As I looked at the card, I felt myself drawn to the card itself. I liked the idea of small creations that I could start and finish and know they are ‘done.’
When I came home, I had some other projects to finish for work and I deliberately chose to take a day off from school. I felt pulled to more art, and so I grabbed my watercolors and started painting.
As I painted, I thought of those cards again. I really wanted some. I thought, I wish I had some of those cards. I painted in my watercolor notebook and thought of different things I could paint on those cards. I have always said “I wish” ever since I was a little girl. I wish works as fast and as magically for me as anything. But, last night I was not even thinking of manifesting the cards when I said it, I was simply expressing what I most wanted from my heart.
I finished painting, put up my palette book and paints, and then played a game with Mark and Chance.
As the evening went on, I felt drowsier and drowsier, so I went to bed and quickly drifted off to sleep. The cards were a distant thought and memory.
Today, I woke up and got right back at my school work, but I couldn’t force myself to get going. Instead, I wandered outside and talked to the plants and birds. I fed our mama and daughter mockingbirds as they chirped nearby. I felt the breeze on my skin as I listened to the chimes gonging in the background. I looked at the color of the sun on the surface of the pool water, and noticed the sun trying to poke through the foliage above me. I soaked up the warm rays and felt them pelting against my pale skin.
I thought I might be able to read outside, but I couldn’t. The energies didn’t match up and I felt myself wishing to just relax, to enjoy this abnormal 70s weather in May and to take time out. So I did. I put the books aside and just enjoyed the rhythm of nature complete with the smell of mint nearby.
I walked inside to get some water and met Mark’s mom coming in from the front. She excitedly exclaimed, “Look what I got for you!” And, there, in her hands were two brand new boxes of Strathmore (one of my most FAVORITE papers) greeting cards…100 cards total! I am amazed at how fast things come to me when I wish from the depths of my heart…my dreamer’s desires. She has been saying that she wants to paint and draw, and with all of this schoolwork on the intellectual plane, she has been throwing tantrums! I have been keeping my promise to her to draw, paint and play at least twice a week. Yesterday, Minette and I only had 30 minutes, so I knew more painting was in store for me. And, now, I’ll do more Zentangling, too. Thank you, Nana, for being the messenger.
I wish… Please send… I ask for… whatever way you ask, ask and expect to receive it!
Looking for a Dream Life:
I trotted over to Violette’s site the other day and found a smorgasboard of yummy, YUMMY art-full treasures she is giving away for the month of December.
She has so many of my faves in here… blue bird with heart on top, anyone? 
You still have a couple of days to enter to win (she’s drawing a winner THIS Wednesday), so go over to Violette’s now and enter!
Plus, another holiday haul you can enter to win is Martha Stewart’s Merry Gifts Sweeps. Miss Debbie told me all about this last Friday. You know how Martha has guests on the show and each person leaves with free stuff when they are in the audience? Well, Martha has a huge sleigh and every item – EVERY item for the month of December is in the sleigh and the winner will get it ALL!
Sign-up over here!
Happy HAUL-idays!
Looking for a Dream Life:
The other day, I enjoyed a play date with a new play mate, Sally Felt. Sally introduced me to GOOGLY eyes and we had fun creating invitations and cards. I found myself hysterically laughing at our creations. Sally, thanks for your cool brand of humor and artsy-flair!
During our play date, I talked about the different types of artists, crafters. Sally looked at me puzzled. I plunged on with more descriptions to try to describe what I’ve observed. She looked back at me quizzically. I gave an example and share what my own experience was. Still nothing.
We moved on.
Then, she started telling this story about going to a workshop where this amazing artist ran from project to project as fast as possible and the entire group was so worn out from creating, moving on, creating, moving on. I seized my opportunity and said, “THAT’S what I was trying to describe!”
In the world of art, I’ve seen people who are all about the technique (like the woman at the workshop with Sally)…think Julia Child, Martha Stewart (I would guess more left brained than right)…then there are those that are all about the expression of the creation and they don’t know where they are going nor do they care, they just show up for the ride – even though sometimes the ride never is finished (I would guess more right brained than left) … and then there are people who just want to be in the midst of the magic in any way possible. They may not feel they have a creative bone in their body, but they love the rhythm and flow of the energy and so they come and show up trying to ‘figure’ out which of the two they are. I believe these people have yet to discover what their ‘way’ is.
Regardless of what type of artist you are, hitch a ride on Violette’s creative magic with these free angel gift tags. Her tags will add a bit of flair to your beautifully wrapped gifts and bring the Christmas verve to a new level with her creative art-FULL-ness! Go straight on over there and snag these beauties. Thanks, Violette!
P.S. I LOVE to wrap gifts. I am a die-hard wrapper though I’m not a prim and proper (think no tape showing, full box flaps!) wrapper. These would look AMAZING on a light green, chartreuse wrapping paper and a natural accent such as a clipping from a Christmas tree, a berry branch or even a rose (for those in the southern half with some fabulous knockouts still blooming!) Oooh, I’ve just inspired myself to create one for a friend and I will take a photo for you!
Looking for a Dream Life:
Quick shout out to Brenda Thebeau who won my book over at Violette’s Creative Juice blog giveaway!
Thanks Violette! Brenda, hope you enjoy!
And, to Mark Koerber who won my book at Welcome Changes Radio a week or so ago!
Thanks Velma! Mark, glad the book is doing double duty!
My book has already gone on many magical journeys…divine is definitely moving it to where it may be of service. More of those stories later!
Do you know a blog or a group that might like to share my book as a contest prize? If so, let me know (tina[at]tinaferguson.com)!
