There is a funny thing that happens when you write a blog...

There is a funny thing that happens when you write a blog... In the beginning it offers a challenge to write on a self-imposed schedule. Through a process of editing, exploring and programming widgets you watch the blog grow - as measured by the number of posts you accumulate and by the number of people that drop in to visit and leave those precious comments. In the beginning you write for others. There is an element of guesswork involved. Always wondering about what new and interesting thing the visitor wants to read.

Blogging has also been known to inspire a wide range of emotions... joy, ecstasy, intrigue, doubt, pride, humor, frustration, and even guilt (for not blogging on the previously mentioned self-imposed schedule). And sometimes, the initial excitement wains. Not because you don't love to blog - but because life happens outside of the blog.

There is a funny thing that happens when you write a blog... In the end what you write inspires you and reminds you of what you have already done... and what you have left to do. And in the end you realize that you really write a blog for yourself - and that the format allows others to take a peek at what's on your mind.

Inspire Me Thursday - Fun & Games

Hola!

With many projects going on at once - forcing me to multi-task; I wasn't able to participate with IMT for a little while. So I'm really glad to be back to participate with this week's topic - Fun and Games.

So this is actually my idea of fun. Part of the reason for creating this art is that I am manifesting my little dream cottage studio for a cottage industrialist. Lots of fun and games will be going on inside this dream studio. I am having fun choosing the colors for the outside sample - imagine what the inside will look like! For my sample I chose shades of lime, chartreuse, cream, sky blue and purple.

Truth be told I really am keeping my eyes open for a craftsman home with all the details I drew; so that I can do a complete reno and paint it funky colors. Now in some parts of Raleigh I think the preservation committee would have a wee problem with my color palette. So I'd have to go with a more subdued traditional color on the outside and express my creative side on the inside.

So much fun.

Enjoy.

Lise

Artful Abundance

I read today that there is a very small percentage of people who actually make a plan for their future; and an even smaller number who write their goals down so that they may actively pursue them.

As I sit here typing I can think of the first time I was introduced to list making and goal setting many years ago when I began my corporate career. I liked making lists as a child so I could remember what it was I planned to get done. Lists made life simple. But over the years I moved from making simple lists for daily activities to elaborate artful creations with detailed mind maps in the margins. The doodles eventually grew to overake the lists and spawned a new goal setting pastime. I love to think in pictures. When I think of something technical or analytical, I sometimes revert to images to help a new concept make sense.

It's no wonder then that my goals are often depicted in my art. In fact, just in front of my computer are two pieces of art I created that capture the goals I had at that time. One had to do with turning over a new leaf, the other with a new house. Each of those goals have since been fulfilled - so it's time to create a new piece of art.

With all the talk lately about "The Secret" and the "Law of Attraction"; I began to realize that goal setting and attracting positive things to you does not have to be held to a simple written (or mental) list. Create YOUR dreams in a piece of art and hang it where you'll be reminded of your next action. Collage art works well for your depicting goals because every piece of paper can be a literal or figurative depiction of your future.

Dream Big & Create Art!

Lise

p.s. And next week, a recent piece about a new car is coming to fruition too - exactly as depicted in my journal. Gotta love this process!