Journal Search

I've been combing through all my journals and drawing books searching for my next endeavor, my next challenge, my next series.   I'm been encouraged by others to do a series based on florals and it just doesn't seem exciting or stimulating to me...I tried to work up a few designs, nothing happened.  And then I tripped over this image of a sunflower.  What a happy face this flower has and it made me feel so at ease, which I need right now.  I had already pulled some images from my journals, ideas that I'd jotted down or drawn and some included the floral idea...and bingo......I had my next series idea....based on the sunflower.  A simple image of a simple flower sewing and embellished with seed beads and glitter in the middle...12x12 wrapped around stretcher bars...simple, clean and colorful.  So I instantly started on my first piece...the sunflower itself; it's  under the sewing machine needle right now, soon to be ready to be stretched......and I'll do a couple of others using the sunflower...and then I plan to move on to another flower everyone loves, the rose and more and more until I have about six in total to hang....KISS......Keep it simple, stupid!!!!!     From there I can move on to the other ideas of combining some abstract work with simple design and work toward some memorable work.  Suddenly I do see the light at the end of the tunnel I've been in and I'm feeling better about doing some fiber work.

While I was rummaging through my journal I ran across some "lists" I had made...and yes, I'm a list maker from way back...but these lists were interesting to me, especially with all the stress I'm going through as a caregiver to my husband.

"What gives me pleasure"
     *  Being lovey/dovey with Lynn
     *  hot tub soak (I miss our hot tub as I do love a good hot soak in water).
     *  grandchildren & my adult children
     *  shopping at a fabric store
     *  shopping in an art store...those are really the only two types of shopping I like to do.
     *  having my hair/scalp scrubbed at a salon..someone other than myself.
     *  stress-less days - stillness
     *  a good book
     *  bowling a good strong game
     *  rocky road ice cream
     *  popcorn and a good movie
     *  creating new work in my art studio

"Things that I regret"
     *  Never having an official wedding party - I eloped both times.
     *  That I couldn't convince my son to get a college education
     *  Not following through on my dream to own my own art gallery
     *  That Lynn & I don't have the ability to travel due to his health reasons
     *  that I allowed my Dad to control whether I went to college or not.  He didn't allow me to prove
         myself to myself...I had make my success the hard way...school of hard knocks.
     *  that I took my first husband back into my life after he decided to leave..I did it for my
         kids so they would have both of us in their lives............................and he hurt me deeply.

I'm sure there are more, but that is what was on my list.  Each of us have regrets of one kind or another..nothing can be done about them now..just know what they are and move on.

"I want to shine as the brightest light possible.  I may be 68, but I feel as if my "true" life is in the here and now.  My true self, the real me.  I realize my time is limited, so don't procrastinate."  LS