Sad news

I just found out one of my favorite cousins, R
has cancer and is having surgery today. I
won't name the cancer, but it is a really bad
one, the worst one. He is a little younger
than me and it breaks my heart. Please
send up prayers and good thoughts for him
to whatever God you believe in. Thanks.

3 wonderful things.

I got this from laini and for some reason I am
feeling a little blue today, so I thought it would
help me get back to myself. The deal is, you write
about 3 wonderful things, so here is my list for today:
1. Waking up and knowing I get to do art all day!
2. Going for a long, sweet run with my dog first thing.
3. The beautiful humming bird outside in my flower garden,
the one I have been trying to get a photo of all week.
I can't stop with 3 :-), so here are some more wonderful things:
4. My animal boys, they are the joy of my life and I am not sure
what I would do without them.
5. The colors blue and green and all the various shades of both
and the combined color they make.
6. Clay and paint and plaster and all the beauty that can be made
from them.
7. Imagination, where would we be without it-no where.
8. Friends, family and bloggers :-).
9. One more chance to live life with my whole heart and
never let fear rule my life again.
What are your 3 things? Happy Thursday. XOXO

Creative Bliss

I have been in a frenzy of creative activity.
Seven new small paintings started. Three
bowls, one mug and one plate made. I can't
keep this smile off my face :-). It is beyond
bliss. I have taken a three day a week job that
starts the end of the month. Three days is not
enough, but it is all I am willing to take as I feel
so strongly that now is the time to get my art out
into the world. It is what I am meant to do, it is
what I am happiest doing. Joseph Campbell's
often quoted quote-Follow your Bliss-is my
guiding light right now. It is so frightening to
trust this, yet for once in my life I am going to
do it. By the way the job came to me and was handed
to me without any effort at all, that is really the
only reason I am taking it as it feels right, for now
and at least I will have some money coming in, but
I will have 4 whole days to do art!!! So much better
than 2! For the next month I will have everyday
to make beauty. My plan is to have my Esty shop up
before 2 weeks. I will post photos of my new stuff soon.
Off to bed. Have a wonderful Wednesday! XOXOXO

The adventure continues

I had the best day yesterday and I wanted to share.
There was a big art opening last night at the gallery where
I show. My friends J and J went with me. I was a bit
nervous because I knew my old boss would be there.
He avoided me for a while which was easy because it
was really crowded in the gallery. However, he was soon
near enough that we had to speak to one another, so I
went first, I smiled and asked how he was then I forced him
to hug me :-). Later I saw his wife and she was just as friendly
and supportive as could be. It felt really good to force myself
to be brave and have it pay off so nicely :-). I am glad I got
that over with because I will be seeing him at functions a lot
in this town. I also had someone tell me that I had changed
their life by my example :-). Wow, no one has ever said that
to me before. The really wonderful part was yet to come.
I went to J's house with the other J and L joined us,
J's mom was also there. We shared art and talked into the evening
for hours. I was so inspired. I love my friends so much and
what is so cool is that J and J and L are men. I have found some
of my deepest and closest friendships to be with men. Don't get
me wrong I have deep, close friendships with women too, but not as
many. I am not sure why this is, but I am thrilled with the friends I have.
I felt so loved last night that I came home on a kind of cloud of joy.
I dreamed I could walk through walls and fly :-). Happy Sunday! XOXO
P.S. What made you joyful this week? Please share.

Doves

This photo is one I took yesterday. 10 doves were

in the tree and it looked so cool. If I had a high

powered lens it would be a really wonderful photo,

as it is I hope you can see the doves :-). I took all

my glazed pottery to the firing place today and she

said I will be surprised by how many will come out alright.

We will see. Many of the things shrunk, so they will likely

be too small to sell :-), but I am learning. Now I am making

things really LARGE :-). Also working on the book and

making phone calls. It is lovely to be home with my

animal boys, they like it too. That's it, just wanted to say hi.

Happy weekend! XOXO

When you leap...

The net appears. I have heard that saying a lot, but
I had never experienced it. Now I have. I felt the net
forming the minute I quit my job, which felt very
much like jumping off a cliff :-). I have another wee
job tomorrow and for the last two days I have worked
on glazing the nine clay pieces I have done. Glazing
is every bit as hard as I have been told and I am afraid
none of my pieces will be saleable, but I won't know until
they are fired. It's okay, I will learn :-). During the last few
days I have felt so calm and so loved and so very taken
care of. I KNOW all is well and I will never take or stay
in another job because of fear. This Be Brave project has
been the most powerful thing I have ever done. I am into my
second month and I am committed to it for life. I must say
it can be intense, look how much my life has changed since
I started doing it. I recommend it to anyone who is feeling
stuck or wants to change their life in a hurry :-).
Thanks for all of your moral support. I love you.

Spike and Max

That's it for today, just the photo, better than nothing :-).

Okay, just a few tidbits-I had a wee job today, an ex fellow

employee told me I was their hero :-), and I have a

standing invite to Dean's house, anytime :-). Other than

that it is just clay, clay, clay! Happy Monday! XOXOXO