Self Help for the Creative

This Crazy Awesome work is created by my sister.  She is self taught and has an eye for color that most can only envy.  Because we both have the feeling of creative self doubt, we talk each other down from those many moments of frustration inherent in projects.  I admire her work so much and she doesn't get it.... that is, she doesn't get how cool her work is to others.  This, in a demented way, gives me hope.  I experience the feeling of never quite arriving with my gowns and she never feels like her paintings are finished.  Yay, maybe to another's eye, my stuff is okay.  

Anyway, she sent a great quote the other day.  I found it completely inspiring and want to pass it on to you.  This is for the creatively frustrated people out there.  The ones who feel the emotion of building something, whether it is in word, music, clay, metal, or even silk.  It explains the reason there is hesitation before starting something that has potential.  I love that my feelings can be justified in this way!  Mostly, though, I am relieved that there are other people out there that experience the same emotions I do.  Phew!

   

This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don't. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete."

Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of Resistance. Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul. That's why we feel so much Resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there'd be no Resistance."

"Are you paralyzed with fear? That's a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it."

- Steven Pressfield  stevenpressfield.com

I especially love the part about the Muse taking note of our effort.  The gowns that I am happiest about are the ones to which I gave my heart and soul.  With those gowns a magical thing that happens where something bigger takes over.  I have always described it as something spiritual.  

Could that be my Muse? 

 I wonder.  

Note, this is a 3 foot wide painting, as I remember it.  The thing is huge and vibrant.  

It isn't your mama's floral painting!

Peace on Earth

I have a magnet on my fridge that says,

"Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." 
It is attributed to Teddy Roosevelt. 

I love this quote because it helps make life less overwhelming.  There is so much need in the world, it makes me feel a bit hopeless.  If I can break it down to this simple quote, I can handle it.  I realize that at this point in my life, my influence is this little family of ours.  If I can try to help these cute kids, I have done that most important job. 

Just for the record, here are the things I am grateful for:

1.  Time, this season we have had plenty of it. 
2.  The lack of snow!  I might be most grateful for this.  It contributes to the family time we have had this season.  The husband hasn't been out all day plowing and controlling the ever oppressive snow. 
3.  Family and Friends, we feel lucky to have such great people in our lives.  
4.  Exercise time.  This might be a huge contribution to the peace in this house.  I have gotten to to hiking almost every day!  When I am into a project, that is a rare thing, to be able to exercise. 
5.  The best and cutest kids we could imagine.  Thanks to them, we have a happy and mostly peaceful house. 

There are so many more things.  But that is what I have been thinking about lately.  In a few days, I will be mostly thinking of dresses.  I will revel in this moment while I have it.  And when I am involved in the dresses, I will revel in that moment. 

I hope you can find your worlds full of wonder, peace, and happiness!

Random thoughts on snow and kids

Jack gives you an idea of the snow levels.  It would bury him whole, but his belly is keeping him afloat.  Jack is a good dog.  Someone dropped him off years ago at our gate.  We think the action was unthinkable, but are so grateful that he is ours. 

A beautiful and sunny day.  Isn't everything relative.  It wasn't more than 4 degrees out, but I was happy because it was at least sunny! 

This Christmas vacation was marked by 6 full days of constant down pouring rain or crazy amounts of snowfall.  Enough to drive me a bit crazy.  Oh, we even had enough snow to break a 4 by 4 in half, the board that holds the power lines apart a top of a power poll.  The break caused a bright light out our window and loud buzzing noise.  Enough to wake us in the middle of the night.  Now I know what happens at the source when the power to go off.  A bit unnerving. 

Another random note.  I noticed that the boys footprints are not that of toddlers anymore.  Their prints in the snow are not much smaller than mine.  To be fair, they did have their boots on, and I my normal shoes, but still, they keep surprising me with what they are capable of and that they are changing into big kids.  How did it happen?

  

Slade is eating snow.  He just plops his head in the snow and goes for it.  He can sit there for ten minutes eating snow with his head buried.  

Unexpected Vacation

Today I feel grateful.  I have been walking around in a bit of a euphoric state. 

 I have been reveling in my two cute kids,

my best friend, who luckily, is also my husband,

the beautiful place that we get to live,

my family,

my husband's family,

my wonderful job that makes me so happy,

and sunlight. 

Why am I acting like this?  Well, I finished the last dress of the busy busy busy season.  The last two and a half years have been a bit overwhelming.  I like overwhelming, but maybe not for that long.  I finished Amanda's dress and shipped it off to San Francisco.  Right after that I opened up a package from Amanda.  It had a bunch of "silly bands" for the kids.  I always get sentimental when anyone gives something to our kids.  It also had an invitation for her wedding.  Earlier, she had said that we should come out.  I thought that wouldn't happen and didn't think anything of it.  BUT the combination of the dress being off, which always fills me with a great sense of relief, the invitation, finding out my kids are out of school for fall break, and the promise of a road trip to San Francisco, it seemed to make sense.  Spontaneous sense. 

So we made plans and went.  It was a perfect vacation.  We dragged the kids all over the place and they were truly happy and enthralled.  We stayed in one of the old hotels in down town.  Loved it.  There is nothing like a good San Francisco hotel.  We did all of the touristy things.  Just walking down the street is an experience for the kids. 

Slade danced to the street musicians.  Hank finally got to ride on a cable car.  We walked and walked.  Even hailing a taxi was exciting.  Of course we went out to Alcatraz.  It was a beautiful time.  I am thinking this is the perfect time to tour with kids.  They were eager to see and do everything!   

At the end of the short vacation in San Francisco, we headed out to the rolling hills of California.  Amanda and Paul's wedding was at Taber Ranch, it was quaint and quite stunning.  We enjoyed a beautiful ceremony given by their friend.  Just the ceremony was worth it.  It was funny and touching.  Perfect.  Then there was the great dinner and the chance to talk to so many of their friends.  Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to us.... the "dressmaker" and her family.  I think we were all overwhelmed by the whole thing.  We couldn't get over how wonderful everyone was to us. 

I will post more of the wedding later, once I have photo's to go with it.  These look like they were taken by paparazzi from a very distant place.  That heightens the mystery of what it was all about and what the dress looked like.  I was just taking it all in, so I forgot to take out our camera.   

I am just grateful.  I feel lucky to work with people during such a significant time in their lives.  I love that I get to create, be pushed to do more, and to grow and learn.  But it is most rewarding to meet and work with people on the project of a wedding gown.   

Oh, and it doesn't hurt to go on a road trip or two. 

Metal in the desert

I love the desert.  I consider it the most creative place I know.  I guess I am not the only one who feels this way.   Here are some great examples of creative people doing interesting things in the desert. 

Anyway, the boys and I got invited to Lake Powell for 2 days.  It was the perfect amount of time.  I had to wait for fabric to come from New York, so there were no reasons not to go.  On our way down, we stopped at Hanksville.... because it would be cool to get a picture of hank by the sign.  Well, as we toured through the small metropolis we passed the most amazing town project.... or so I assume it was a town project.  There were 30 sculptures in front of an old motel made of random car parts.  The inspiration was dinosaurs.  Another example of why I love the desert.

Slade looks like he isn't too sure about this one.

Okay, these two images are just random ones I have snapped in the last year.  I guess in a round about way, it fits the theme.  Love the color of the blue truck. 

 Just love the horse shot.  This horse is really quite remarkable.  It is located outside of my brother and sister-in-law's restaurant,  The Painted Pony, in St. George.