A Bit of Bragging!

I have tried and tried to cultivate my love of art into my children. It was super easy when they were little but now that they are big (not grown but big) it is a difficult task. Museum trips are out of the question unless I long to see rolling eyes and hear deep sighs. Needless to say, I gave up.

Then this year my youngest decided to take Graphic Design in school and he's become increasingly interested. WOOHOO!!! His homework assignment during vacation this week was black and white photography. Here are a few of the pictures he's been taking - I'm so proud of him! And I think these are really good.

I guess there IS something to be said about NOT controlling everything going on around you.

Tangled Week III - No Plan

My week off "Auto Pilot" was interesting! This week I learned that having No Plan is still a plan! Walking into a day with no expectations of what was going to happen in that day makes for a very interesting time.

My "No Plan" plan was the key finishing this week's Zentangle creation. I did this without even thinking about what Tangles I was using. Usually I hem and haw about using the same Tangles...my favorite Tangles. But I just threw that care out the door for this one. Can't wait to see what happens this week without a plan.
Enjoy everyone!

A Tangled Week Part II: Auto - Pilot

It's Monday and I am already having a tangled week. Tonight I started this piece. I sat down after work with absolutely no plan and BOOM this is what came out. I'm surprised! I wasn't sure what was going to happen because my new job makes my brain hurt. This is the most difficult transition I've ever made - professionally. I just want to get to the point where I know everything I need to be amazing at what I do. The funny thing is I've been working so hard at being perfect that I think I have actually missed a lot of learning (some professional but more personal). I'm disappointed with myself.

Where is this coming from you ask? WWWWeeelll ...

Last week someone challenged me to rethink my idea that auto-pilot is a sign of success. Did I mention my irritating need to be perfect? I bust my butt in everything I do to get to the point where I am so good at it that I just know what to do - run on auto-pilot. I have lived my entire life working toward the same goal - achieve auto-pilot. This is how I approach every challenge that I take on, every job I have ever had and just about every thing I do. I gauge my success by how quickly I achieve auto-pilot.

And now - thanks to this person - I'm thinking maybe auto-pilot isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm sad about how much I may have missed in my search for auto-pilot. It is long past time to embrace working out of my comfort zone and just let my brain hurt! You know - see what happens when I slow down long enough to question why I am doing what ever I am doing. Time to truly approach every day the way I approach my art - as an experience and a puzzle that creates an opportunity to figure something out.

Reminder to myself - slow down long enough to enjoy the process!

The Importance of Importance

My Tangled Week ended with a big accomplishment. Here it is - finished! Too bad my work week didn't end with as much excitement. I am finding the new job quite a challenge, one that was wholly unexpected. I took the job thinking that it was going to be very similar to the one I had - plus the money was great. Two months in and it turns out that it is actually VERY DIFFERENT!

Friday one of the ladies I work with made a comment that struck a strong cord with me. I complimented her and her response to me was ... " Yeah, I used to be important. I've been here for a couple of years now and I'm not important anymore. You know what I mean... YOU used to be important too."
WTH??? How do I take that??? I decided it was a comment about her not me.

Marketing management is a pivotal role in the success (or failure) of a company. Seemingly, a very "important" position! However, the reality was that it didn't matter how well I did or how successful my campaigns were. Marketing was only as important as everyone gave it credit for. OUCH! Production management has turned out to be a completely different animal. One that takes an entirely different skill set. An "important" one that I am pleased to have developed over the last 20 years. Does this mean that I am finally important?

IF I listen to my new coworker the answer to that question is - NO! The thing is - I don't care!

It took a lot of emotional control for me accept this and to ultimately remove my self worth from my position. I just can't go through life wondering, "How important am I be when no one thinks what I do is important?" Importance is subjective. My children, husband, family and friends and my art are important. I am important - because I say I am. It turns out that in the big picture, being important isn't ... important.

A Tangled Week - Part 1

One of the most wonderful perks of being a Zentangle Trainer is the amazing community of creatives that I am part of. One of these communities is on Facebook - Friends of Zentangle. Feel free to check it out here.

Last week a friend of mine posted a question about how everyone stores all of their Zentangle art, Tangles and reference materials. Not a bazaar question by any means but it made me really think about the fact that I rarely keep my pieces. I usually give them away as gifts or keep them in my sketchbook on a shelf.

WHAT KIND of creative showing is that for myself? SERIOUSLY! So this week I am taking some time and spending some quality time with my pens. This is what I've come up with so far; it is not done yet but I am keeping it just for me. More updates later ;-). Have a great week everyone!!

A Creative Soul

Here is my morning my reminder that I have a creative soul. I am built of beautiful material and I can achieve amazing things.

I hinted about the big changes in my life recently earlier this year... For 10 years I spent the majority of every day in a passive-aggressive, co-dependent, job. Which, given my personal history, IS NOT a healthy place to have been. The thing is, "they" are right, you stay for the people. And, I worked with some wonderful people that changed my life in beautiful ways. But there were others, as there always are, that simply sucked ... the life and soul right out of me.

Until this week I didn't fully understand what a toll this took on me. I am amazed at how many times a day I question my self: my ability, my personality, my opinions, my intelligence and my talent. This simply can not be allowed to continue. I don't know the exact day it started but I'm ending it. It's time to listen to my creative soul again.

Traditions Change

Traditions were never important in my family growing up. So, when I had kids it became very important to me that they had traditions in their lives - something that they would want to continue with their children when the time came.

Every year I write them each a letter, a year in review as well as a way to give them their history when they are grown. We also create an ornament every year. It was always my plan that when they were old enough they would each receive a box of ornaments made by them and the story of their life.

This year they are 16 and 19 and I guess that is too old to make ornaments with Mom since no one wanted to make them this year. I was so disappointed but it was naive of me to think it would last forever. So, until I have grandchildren, this family tradition has changed. This is my Zentangle inspired snowflake. Little late but made with love and finished for the boxes before the end of January - phew.

Enjoy!