Awesome

I recently entered a giveaway. It was one of those that you had to actually write responses, and think about what to say to win. I love those. She had a great question: Do you think you are awesome? Why or why not. (I wont award this to someone who DOESNT think they are awesome)

And it got me thinking and I felt like sharing.

Reasons I am awesome:

I gave birth to two AMAZING kids who by all standards are normal, healthy, and pretty dang cute.

I create great messes and I am amazing at being able to ignore them for days (see the above picture) (My husband btw doesnt think this is such an awesome thing)

I make an awesome spinach quiche

I love to sing, and I dont care it is off key

I care about the planet

I love to hear other people's stories

I can curl my tongue (thanks genetics!)

give me a good book and a glass of lemonade and I am set for hours

I cry at the drop of the hat

I wear my heart on my sleeve

No matter how many times I get knocked down and I always get back up dust myself off and keep smiling.

So.... There you have it, what makes me awesome. What about you? What makes you awesome I would love to hear about it!!

Off the sidelines

Ugh, is this week over yet? I have been having these funks lately. I think it is has to do with the waffling of the season, among a few other life changes. This past we I went through a life experience that shook me to my core. After a long talk with my best friend (Hi BFF!) I looked back to my word of the year. Something I look at daily but really havent fully committed to lately.

So embrace... what does it mean to me? Originally it was taking everything in good and bad and taking it for what it was worth. Lately I am realizing it is about me, embracing who I am, and who I want to become. The work that I need to do.

I want to be an artist, I want that to be my "title" so what does that mean to me? That means I get to have a studio and people buy my work because they see value in it. It means I have a portfolio, and gallery exhibits and people write about my work. It means I do interviews and be a guest writer on blogs. It means I teach my methods to those who want to also learn to paint, draw, collage. I am there? Not even close.

But what I have done is I have written down my Artist Goals. Originally I called them dreams but I crossed out the word dreams. Why? It didnt seem definite enough it was a word that meant I could think about it and hope for it but I didnt have to work for it. Goals? A much better word. I need to work my butt off to get what I want.

I also have a lot of personal goals for myself. This is the year I finally get off the sidelines and work to get what I want. So thank you, you know who you are, I bet you didnt know the change you have lit in my soul, but none the less thank you to the universe for sending you my way at the time I needed it the most. I didnt see it at first and I needed the loving soul of my dearest friend to help me see it but everything truly does happen for a reason. It is just up to us to see those lessons and grow from them.

I cant wait to share my journey with you all! I am sure there will be lots of ups and downs. And please if you want to share I would love to here about your own journeys whatever they may be. email me any time at: artsymomma @ gmail .com

New Year, new techniques?

Have you heard of TTV (through the viewfinder)? A great tutorial is found here. It has been a fun technique I have wanted to try for the last few years. I have had a few cameras that I have found at various garage sales and antique stores for a fairly cheap cost. Now I am trying to figure out a way to rig up the tripod so I can take portraits with it. Wish me luck. Are there any new things you want to try this year? Share, I would love to know!

Embracing the artist in me

I have an amazing best friend (BFF) this year we decided to do a thrift Christmas so all of the gifts were to be purchased from a thrift store. I slightly broke part of the rule (most of her gifts were from a thrift store) I made her a painting. I recently took an online course and I cant tell you how thrilled I was. I created this one in mind for BFF. It turned out a little more tie-dyed then I would have liked but still as a first go I am pretty thrilled. And because my BFF is such an amazing supportive friend she already has it hung up in her home.