Thursday 13 - A keen eye

Last night, I sat down and read my first two posts from Sarah Robinson's 28 days to Getting Your S*** Together. In the second post, I was asked to distill myself down to one sentence. My core, or, my s***. I was able to narrow it down, though it was still floating in a couple of separate pieces. Ultimately, I am a creative problem solver. I am also an artist. And, I am sensitive and intuitive.

This morning, in the shower, where a lot of us do our best thinking it dawned on me. Perceptive. I am perceptive. It is the key to everything else. I can see the little details in art, and life. I can see where things fit best. I can see the potential connections, between people and people, or people and resources/solutions.

So, I'd like to share with you some lovely moments of joy from yesterday, that were made possible by my perceptiveness.

~***~

I've been feeling much better the past two days, and I went out for a lovely walk in a lovely neighbourhood. It was one of those walks that took longer, and was so much more precious, because of all the stops to marvel at the small wonders.

13 Pieces of Joy from my day yesterday:

1. I dropped my sweetie off at work yesterday. As I was heading back home the quick way, probably in a rush, I checked to see if it was clear to cross the intersection and got a glimpse of some crisp snow capped mountains. Plan change. Right hand turn, towards a slow drive along the water. Beautiful sunrise, almost the entire Coastal Mountain range in the distance, and sun glinting off the pieces of snow caps directly across the water


2. Then I came home and assembled the JOY photos into this lovely collage. So thankful for all the Joy photos that were submitted, as they brought me joy and they look so wonderful together.

3. Brene Brown. I finally watched her story sharing at TED. Wow. That's it. Just Wow. Watch it! Now :)

Here's her website, blog, and twitter.

4. A trip to the actual Bank was necessary. As I got into line, a woman came rumbling in behind me, and her cantankerous energy made me physically step away from her. I remembered Cinderita's story, opened my body language and smiled at her. As she was getting upset about the time, and the other stops that needed to be made, I smiled at the gentleman with her. She moved closer to the trash can and was trying to pull a clingy piece of thread from her sweater. I smiled at them both. They started chuckling about the desperate thread. Once it was successfully removed, the woman turned to me, with a big smile, and recounted a story of a play she saw when she was a little girl, and a skit where a piece of something relentless moves its way through the actors, and ends up back on the first person. JOY. I wasn't able to give them physical hugs. Though, I felt like what I had given them was the equivalent.

5. I went out for a walk. In the middle of the day, in the middle of the week. It was cold and bright and gorgeous. (ok, so cold here means O degrees celcius). I was feeling stressed about all the things I wasn't accomplishing in the day, and the walk was way more fun that.

6. I had company for my walk! A new friend I've inherited with the large pack that came with my sweetie. And her lovely dog. And her mom's dog. She is also doing Sarah Robinson's "28 days" and talking about it gave me a chance to learn some really awesome/admirable things about her. She lives very close, and we have another walk date planned!

7. Learning that the early cherry blossoms we see in February are actually plum blossoms! How cool is that!

8. The snowdrops are everywhere now :)


9. You can see little micro-bursts of green in many places, if you are open to seeing them.

10. Chickens photograph well

11.Dogs photograph well.

12. Pure maple butter on toast tastes like a maple glazed donut! Pure maple butter on toast, with cinnamon, tastes like a cinnamon bun! Amazing. (For someone like me, who's allergic to almost everything)

13. I climbed into bed last night, almost on time, all cozy and calm. Then I realized, with a heart full of hope and joy, that I had not yelled at anyone for the entire day! If you read back on what I've been dealing with the past couple of weeks, it will make sense :)


What little pieces of life, beauty, or joy did you notice in your travels yesterday or today?

Thursday 13 - For Starving Artists

Over the past year or more, my ability to work dwindled slowly, until it ultimately became non-existent. I've had to get very creative with little money, and I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks with you!

1. Volunteer - I know, it doesn't seem to make sense right away. Work for nothing? Yes! This has let me continue enjoying the luxuries I would have had to give up. My YMCA membership? I volunteer for two hours a week and in return my monthly gym fees are waived. Every shift I volunteered at our local Fringe Theatre Festival equaled a ticket I could use at one of the shows. My spot on the volunteer registration team at the conference this weekend, gained me access to my workshops and a snazzy t-shirt. Yes, it feels great to give back to my community, and it also feels really good not to feel limited.

2. Paint samples - I love wandering through the water colour aisle at the art store. Daniel Smith often puts out little swatches with a couple dabs of some very gorgeous colours. Warning - you will want to buy them at some point, they are so lovely.

3. Thrift Stores - Yep, we all know they are great for cheap clothes and housewares, hallowe'en costumes and probably some questionable "vintage" or "retro" items. They are also wonderful for some unique art supplies. That painting no-one in their right mind would buy even though it's been marked down to a dollar? Grab it. You can prime the canvas and re-use it. And repurpose the frame if there is one too. Same goes for funky fabrics and textiles. A shirt you might not wear could become your next journal cover. Curtains into pillow covers, you get the idea.

4. Classifieds Online - craigslist, usedeverywhere.com, etc. I like to keep an eye on these for art supplies that are being given away or sold ridiculously cheap. Moving sales, giving up a failed hobby, all things that I could benefit from. These sites are also great if you want to get attention to classes you are offering. Photo artists, you know how expensive all the equipment is. Buy used! It is still out of my price range, though my sweetie picked up his camera body this way at an incredible price, and is often seeing drooling over the next flash or lens he's waiting to find a good deal on.

5. Clothing swaps - I can honestly say that I have not bought a new, and probably not used, piece of clothing in at least a year. Arranging clothing swaps has been so fun, and women are extremely more friendly and generous in these situations than you would expect. They are also very eye opening when it comes to your own self consciousness. That skinny girl in your group you always compare yourself too, might have larger legs than you. And we all celebrate when something looks fabulous on someone. It's like going shopping with a gaggle of your besties, except the joy you get is from watching an item you love find a better home, not from slashed price tags.

6. Grape Seed Oil - Okay, this is going to sound weird. This yummy and antioxidant laden oil is a fabulous beauty tool. I have used it to effortlessly remove heavy make up from my face, and boy was it soft the next day. I use it to lotion my arms, especially after having them waxed. My esthetician tells me that she also uses it as a lotion and adds a little bit of sugar to it. Yum. I've been meaning to use it make my own salt glow too... 1/2 cup of oil, and a cup of fine sea salt. Seriously, that easy.

7. Beauty schools - There are groups of eager students out there willing to offer you their services at ridiculously low rates. This applies to hair and esthetic schools, massage and chiropractic schools, acupuncture and chinese medicine, you name it. You get the comfort of a salon/clinic, and a watchful supervisor.

8. School notice boards - Same thing. Need a website designed so you can promote your new business? Someone is looking for a real live guinea pig. Students trying to build up their skills or portfolios may offer their services for free, and recent graduates looking to build up their clientele means reduced rates for you. Graphics, marketing, accounting, if it's a service you need, someone is out there training in it right now!

9. Bartering - This gets you into gear, in the motions of "selling" your art work and getting it out into the world. I know an artist who has painted a salon window, and traded an art piece for hair cuts. Maybe your dentist needs his daughter's wedding photographed, and you need the fillings and the practice? Talk openly about your art or services, people are the greatest resource.

10. MeetUp.com - There is probably a photography group in your area that could translate into some very affordable marketing for you or your business. At their events, photographers, models and stylists come together to build their portfolios, all at no or low cost. If you are a photographer this means great practice with models and lighting. If you are a clothing or jewelry designer, offer your stuff for a shoot. If you get the permissions, you can use the photos to promote your line. And it will look like you paid a fortune for a professional photographer. Groups could probably also appreciate large art pieces to help change up the background, and practice lighting.

11. Displaying - Some towns have art circles that rotate the art of a group of cafes and restaurants. See if you can get into one. Or, talk to someone at every one that you go into. You might hit on an independent who's desperate to change up their walls. Same goes for business offices. The boring art on your dentist's wall, may be boring to them too and they simply don't know where to look for new material. Perhaps a friend of yours is tired of staring at the Ikea apple triptych in their office lunchroom. Make sure you have wall tags displaying your name, and perhaps a stack of business cards at the counter or nearby. Heck, give framed pieces to all your friends to display in their space at work. I'm sure they would love to talk about the hot new artist the work is from.

12. Groupon - This company is taking the world by storm. Many things I wouldn't be able to afford or experience are offered up at an average of 50% off. The deals come up daily in the city you sign up for, and don't have to be used up immediately. We have tickets sitting at the ready for the Butterfly Gardens. They were half off, which basically meant that my sweetie didn't have to pay for me too.

13. The Dollar Store - What a wonderful place filled with incredibly useful stuff. (Though I try really hard not to think about the small children and families who probably manufacture it, and are the reason the prices are so low). I digress. Yes, it is great for the every day stuff. Did you know you can also find art supplies there too? Tracing paper and sketch paper, paint brushes for gluing, tissue paper for collages. I even picked up a couple of mini canvases at the one near me. You can grab photo boxes and plastic baskets for storing your supplies, or gifting your treasures. Small vases for having at the ready your paint brushes and pencil crayons. And, of course, cheap glasses and mugs you can use to enjoy your wine while you're creating your art. No sweat if they get covered in sticky acrylic finger prints :)

What are your Cheap Tricks?

Thursday 13 - Scent-sitive

It's that time of week again. Thursday 13, and today it is actually on the 13th! I think that also means I've been on this train for two months now :) [I changed the design a little to celebrate. Who knows what I will get up to next month!]

Now, on to the task at hand. Y'all know that I'm super sensitive to a lot of foods, alcohol and scents. Well, my super sensitivity, and my super sniffer lead me to wonders too. Foods that I can't eat, I've come to realize, I can still really enjoy the aroma. I've been known to inhale the fragrance wafting from a plate or two when out with friends or family. The same goes for all the yummily fragrant things I used to drink.

So here is a list of thirteen fabulous scents I do enjoy. The idea was brought on by number 13, which led me down many memory paths.

Aromas I partake of through others:

1. Soft baked chocolate chip cookies

2. The chicken curry that my sweetie's dad made for his birthday this year - fragrant coconut, ginger, cinnamon... very satisfying.

3. Freshly roasted coffee

4. Many beverages of the fermented kind: sweet double-casked single malt scotch, vanilla-y cognac, Christmas morning Carolans, Sea Cider's Pommeau that smells like candy apples at the fair, wine - bright whites and deep reds. Thankfully, my sweetie has very good taste in his bevvys. It's funny - I think I actually wrote that on my wish list when looking for him. Appreciates good wine and scotch. Originally, it was so we could enjoy them together. I don't miss them anymore because I have the aroma. And that trip to Napa, was not just for him... such good wines means such good smells - blissed me out too believe it or not.

5. Cigars - something else I use to enjoy. Being allergic to smoke does this one in too. I caught a whiff of one yesterday, and it still mellowed me right out.

Aromas that come from things I do partake in:

6. Roast chicken - this one makes me drool, like Pavlov's dog. My nose knows when food is done cooking.

7. Breakfast foods - pancakes, baked french toast and bacon - the bacon would have to be the turkey bacon I found on our trip to Oregon that I didn't react to. Can we go back to Oregon now?

8. Earth after a rain, especially in the spring

9. The ocean

10. Campfires - almost as good is the smell on your clothes the next day... mmm...

11. Christmas trees, cedar, and the rosemary that grows like hedges along peoples lawns in California

12. My sweetie's skin - curled up falling asleep, first thing in the morning, freshly scrubbed after a shower - I will take it all

13. A freshly opened box of Crayola crayons - the smell reminds me of art and creativity and possibility laden new beginnings.

There you have it. You've just learned something new/interesting/quirky about me?

What is your favourite smell?

[I (heart) Hoops and Yoyo!] :)

Thursday 13 - Paying it Forward

Today started off as a bit of a wash. I was woken around 4:30 this morning by a pretty nasty nightmare. I've been feeling a little run down this week already, so when I did go back to bed around 630 (which was just to wake the sweetness up) I ended up falling back asleep, and didn't get up again until 230 this afternoon. I missed a good chunk of the day. Sigh.

Thankfully, when I was conscious enough to check my email, I found a reminder from Jodi at Living Life Photographically about a pay it forward program I am now involved with. Then I remembered that I hadn't missed out on everything today, because today is Thursday 13. My newest fun blog activity. So I spent what was left of my afternoon resting, and digging up some interesting information for y'all.

13 ways to Pay it Forward

1. Creativity P.I.F - Jodi posted this and I am paying it forward here:

• I promise to send something handmade to the first 3 people who leave a comment request here.
• To be eligible, you must also post this in your blog, offering the same thing to 3 other people.
• The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 3 people *sometime* in 2011.

2. Love Bomb

Another lovely thing I found in my mailbox today was this week's Love Bomb.

Love Bomb is a project of ItStartsWith.Us. Once a week we come together to drop hundreds of love bombs (in the form of blog comments) for those who need it most. Subscribe via email & join us in our missions. It only takes 5 minutes a week!

3. Heal with a Meal

Brooke, at Learning the Language of Brooke Farmer is the driving force behind a new and upcoming project called Heal with a Meal, in California, and hopefully much farther.

The premise of Heal With a Meal is that if we each took a few minutes once a month to purchase a meal for one homeless person, shake their hand and get to know them a little bit- as a person- then we could have a huge impact.

4. Narayanan Krishnan

This guy blows my mind. You can watch a video about him here.

5. Get inspired by "Pay It Forward" the Book, written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and the Movie based on the book.

Since the book was released in January of 2000, a real-life social movement has emerged, not just in the U.S. but worldwide. What began as a work of fiction has already become much more.

6. Visit Catherine Ryan Hyde's foundation. You can apply for grants or invite them into school based projects and get free wrist bands and bumper stickers.

The Pay It Forward Foundation was established ... to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and provide them with opportunities to do so.

7. Share your Pay it Forward story, or read others

Pay It Forward Foundation board member Charley Johnson has introduced a new web site, a great location where anybody and everybody can submit their PAY IT FORWARD stories and also post comments, visit the website here.

8. Celebrate Pay it Forward Day. Their website claims it is only 111 days away :)

Thursday, April 28th, 2011.

9. Watch people in action on YouTube

• Gas Station Pay it Forward
• Customers Pay it Forward at Starbucks
• Pay it Forward - Pittsburgh to Chicago

10. Grab a Smile Card from HelpOthers.org - I read a lovely story of them in use here

11. Get a trackable card from Jenny Sims movement Quality of Life Foundation.
You can hear her in interview with KPCW here.

12. KPHO Arizona - CBS 5 News series "Pay It Forward". If you're in their neighbourhood, get involved. If not, see if your local station will do something similar.

Here’s how it works: Each week we give a viewer $500. That viewer has just 60 minutes to give the money away to someone who needs a little boost in life. So what's the hitch? You can't give it to a family member, and our cameras must be able to come along

13. Free Hugs - This is one of my all time fave videos. Enjoy!

Names

The reverb prompt came in last night, and I vetoed it. It's not that I'm too busy, or avoiding. It just took me a long time to feel like I belonged to my name, and I don't want to change that.

So, as a part of my first Thursday 13, I'm going to share some other fun names with you :) Towns or cities that are named after Christmas or some part of the holiday! Ready?

1. Christmas, Florida
2. Christmas Island, Australia
3. Elf, North Carolina
4. Eggnog, Utah
5. Holly, Michigan
6. Humbug, Arizona
7. Mistletoe, Kentucky
8. Noel, Missouri
9. North Pole, Alaska
10. Santa Claus, Indiana
11. Snowflake, Arizona
12. Stocking, Austria
13. Tannenbaum, Arkansas

How fun is that, right?

And if you're in the mood for some more winter fun - check this out!