A glimpse of JOYFUL action... Captured to share

The past few days, I've been working on an exciting new project in my studio. This morning--when I walked in and turned on the light... I was *taken* with the sight of countless *JOYFUL* projects arranged all over my "big" drawing table (and covering most of my "small" drawing table, too!!) *Bliss* Richly textured, colorful, vibrant, pleasant, inviting *Bliss*

Usually, my "big" drawing table is reserved for current "Administrative" projects, because it's situated close to my computer desk (which is small--and needs to borrow some surface area from it's neighboring table!!)

Friday afternoon, around 5:00, I "clocked out" of my day job... and turned off my computer until Monday morning. My mission was to dig into a new project. It was hard to spend time inside with the *gorgeous* weather we've been having---but I knew I really wanted to get some work done... Get some work "OUT" of my mind, and onto the page... into the pages of a SERIES of new (handmade) books, actually!!

So--I decided to spend some time outdoors--absolutely... And to also enjoy some "quality time" inside, in my studio. And, today, I feel good :) Passionate production... Playful processes... Prolific plethora... P-p-p-p-pretty JOYFUL to me!!

Following Up on Intentions

Sometimes it seems like there are some items that just keep getting put on that "To Do" list, repeatedly, because they still aren't done yet (or they still haven't been started!!!!!!) This is something I have struggled with for a long, long time!! Sometimes, we just gotta push ourselves to get started... And sometimes we gotta keep on pushing until we actually DO get started... and keep working at it... and, soon, we can check that project off as being "DONE" :)

A few months ago, I posted about "Intentions" (with the intention of posting on my progress, as a follow up.) Well... I am ***thrilled*** to report that I made some *VERY*GREAT*PROGRESS* during the next couple months--finishing up some very important projects, and working on some others. This has brought me **MUCH**JOY** indeed, and has also "made room" (both literally and figuratively) for some other work I've been wanting to do.

Perhaps I will post more in the future on the process of these "clearing" projects in the past... But for NOW... I will move on to the PRESENT... And what a gift it is :)

(...stay tuned for some info on "current events" in my studio!!)

Joyfully shared,

Dawn

Nine is the number today

”

Today is the 9th Day of the 9th Month of the Year.

”

Which is pretty cool.

”

In that spirit, I am creating a *goal* to

post in my blog *9 times* in September.

”

Which relates directly to my recent general

desire to *post*more*often* here in my blog.

”

(This now makes it a SPECIFIC goal)

(Which is also a very *joyful* goal.)

”

Here’s to a *creative*joyful*productive* month of NINE :)

”

Enjoy!!

”

left brain*right brain*multi-tasking*food prep*crazy day

Today, in addition to my "usual" work that’s often done remotely, I "launched" a new management system that I designed for virtual inner-office-communication for my “day job”... As I also did a lot of "other" work... Wrote a newsletter article I was asked to do promoting "creative" pursuits... Cleaned up the kitchen that was out of control from days of neglect... Did some laundry, watered the garden & took some photos... and, SOMEWHERE, in the middle of all this, I totally BURNT lunch… Yep, smoke detector went off and everything… Because I left the room while perhaps having *too*much*going*on*already, yet wanted to balance my checkbook for some reason, right then, and just had to go back to my computer, while the stove was on!! (***NOTE: this is NOT recommended!!***)



So, why am I writing about this HERE, you may ask?!
Well, another thing I worked on today was writing/finishing up a few entries for my blog… They’re ready to go, all except for photos. I can’t believe that Summer is on it’s way out, or that it is September already. I have been doing a lot of “Creating for Joy” that I’d love to share here, in addition to a follow-up post to the one I wrote about “Intentions” a couple months ago. (*hint* I’ve been making good progress!!)



So, now that the smoke has cleared (literally!!) from today, and I have a few moments, I’m posting *this* right now… because we all know how long “someday” may take if we don’t get started right now... (And, we also know that I’ve been having “issues” with photos!!) So, again, I will just get started, right now…

Joyfully shared,
Dawn

(NOTE: I took these photos on a Mid Summer walk... With my iPhone camera (which is the only camera I can independently get photos out of right now!!)

Intentions... Confessions... Solutions...

It’s the last day of June 2010… ALREADY… And I’m feeling the desire to post on my *BLOG*… My “plans” for this year included “intentions” to post on this BLOG much more than I have so far. Hmmmm… There’s that word: “INTENTIONS.” It is a magical word, and yet a word that can seem so hard to coordinate productive truths (and results) from sometimes.

For a long time, I have collected “intentions.” I’ve collected them in boxes, in piles, in projects… In materials, in supplies, in relationships… They’ve become clutter in more ways than literal… Obstacles in more ways than figurative… Pot holes in more spots than a roadway after a long, cold, snowy season can tally…



Certainly there have been times in my life when I’ve been pretty efficient at cleaning things up and orchestrating good progress and completion of some of these “intentions”… Other times the solutions have presented themselves in the form of true gifts… And there have also been times when I’ve struggled so much and felt overwhelmed and upset with it all (along with being very upset with myself for letting things go.)

At this time, I would like to “broadcast” an INTENTION: I want to sort out, clean up and complete the projects and business and clutter that I’ve been avoiding/neglecting for some time… Decide what matters most, how to handle it, and/or whether or not to let it go… And then DO it!!!!

And, of course, I will continually remind myself of some of the reasons to do all of this… Which includes creating the time, space & ability to practice “Creating for Joy” :)

Thanks for sharing my journey!!

Out of the Box...!!

About a week or so ago, my jewelry pliers (finally) came out of the box...!! Since we've moved, I've used "other" pliers, but not my "main collection" that I use mostly for jewelry done in my studio... My pliers seemed just as happy as I was, carefully unpacking them from their constricted transportation/storage box... I'm sure we will all be much happier to get moving again, producing some nice new stuff :)



The week before that, things all came together, furniture-wise. That felt really good, as it had been a struggle to fit all the pieces that I wanted to be in the room, and to keep each working "zone" as logical and condusive as possible. It all came together at some point with a *CLICK* when I brought in a bookcase that wasn't really needed in the living room, but would fit in the (otherwise "awkward") corner of my studio "nook"... Because of the slanted wall along that side of the room, I turned the bookcase (with a slanted top on it) around to face the wall, letting the back of it face the work area. The shelves are still accessible from the open side, and the back of it can now be used as a bulletin board... (see photo above)



Little by little, things are getting "out of the box" and it's "all coming together"... You may have noticed that there does not seem to be much going on in terms of creative projects themselves within my studio space yet... And you are RIGHT!!



It seems like most of the *color* in here right now is in a few storage containers here and there!!



Of course, most of my storage containers, and furniture, too, are pretty *neutral* in color... Kind of like most of my clothes!! Because, as much as I *LOVE* color, and I love to use color in my work, I really *LOVE* the feeling of wearing, and being surrounded by, neutrals. I think it makes me feel more *grounded.* ;)


Thanks for visiting my new studio, and my blog... I look forward to sharing more soon...

- Dawn :)

We've Moved... Now---Back to Blog

Well, well, well... I haven't posted in my blog here in many, many weeks!! Probably the biggest reason for that is that I MOVED!! (well, to clarify: my *residence* moved, the blog didn't move!! ;) I was working on pieces to post here for my "100 Pieces" challenge, but I was having trouble getting photos posted. At the same time, Chris and I were painting and preparing the new place to move into... Packing, sorting, packing... And at some point, the "photo station" and lights, etc, had to be uprooted... and all the precious works in progress (and finished works) had to be carefully packed up...

Then there was a lot of: Moving, moving, moving...

(see above photo -- this was the back of moving truck #2 -- Chris was driving the U-Haul truck, and I was following along in my Jeep -- notice the Bethlehem Steel Stacks in the background... For those of you who aren't familiar with the Lehigh Valley, those are very large distinct landmark structures!!)

Out of the Lehigh Valley... a bit more South now, but still in Pennsylvania.(We both enjoyed living in Bethlehem very much, but we also enjoy our new location very much... And, we are closer to my family now, which is really nice :)

Then there was more moving stuff... Unpacking, sorting, stacking... More unpacking, sorting, stacking... (Still unpacking, sorting, stacking...)

And then we had **several snow storms** spread over a relatively short period of time... And, low and behold, somewhere in between shovelling and unpacking... We set up our **space** a little more, unpacked a few more treasured **items**, had a couple of really nice **meals**... And everything really started to feel more like * * * H O M E * * *

So... Now it's time to get back to some ***Creating for Joy!!*** I have, of course, done many "creative" things in the past few months, and I will write about some of those things here... Also, there are some new "creative" things I want to do, and share here, too... *****Here are just a few things that I really want to do:

1. I want to learn to be "photo-posting-independent." Taking photos is easy for me (okay, they may not be the BEST possible photos, but I can do it pretty good!!) The trouble I have is getting them thru my computer and onto THIS page here... I can do it from my iphone camera, but not from my "big" camera. So, that is a big thing on my list to do. It's mostly a "technical" thing, I think.

2. I want to take **better** photos. (Which means learning how to use different settings on my camera, working with lighting, etc.) This one may be a lifelong pursuit, and that's okay. I would be really happy to learn more... Taking photos of my own work, as well as photos of people, nature, architecture, etc.

3. I want to continue posting work that I've "created", and to finish the "100 Pieces" Design Challenge that I was working on before.

4. I'd like to post other things I've "created" as well--including new work and archives.

5. I want to post more regularly on my blog, and DEFINITELY post more **photos**!!!!

... and many more things ... which I look forward to sharing here ...

Thanks for reading this--I'm so grateful to have a place to share!!

Enjoy!!

- Dawn :)