The Unlimitlessness Of Gratitude

Gratitude.  I'm coming to see that wonderful and powerful word is the key to making life wonderful and powerful.  Expressing and acknowledging what I am truly grateful for is quickly becoming a daily practice in my life.  Even on the days I get cranky or tense.  Looking around me and acknowledging something I'm grateful for, shifts my mood.  Clears my mind.

There really is so much in my life.  Some folks would look at my life and agree.  Others would  not, as I'm so unconventional and a bit quirky.  All that doesn't matter.  I have a lot in my life to be grateful for.   I haven't always been grateful.  There were times in the past that all I could see is what I didn't have in my life.  I was challenged to do a gratitude journal for a month.  With a "I don't have much" attitude, that journal was a impossible.  Yet I kept at it.  Everyday for a month.  Some where along the line, I came to the conclusion, that I had a lot in my life.  Abundance was everywhere I looked.  The problem I was having is that I thought abundance had to look a certain way.  Lots of money.  Lots of new things. Lots of lots of whatever.  Those are nice and yet abundance is way better than all that. I was actually limiting myself by thinking I knew everything and how I defined abundance and what I was grateful for.  Limiting beliefs and thoughts create frustration and they-well- limit us...paralize us, sometimes to the point of where all we can see in lack.  When all we can see is lack, we can't really see all the wonderful things in our lives to be grateful for...even if it is something as simple as pasta or running water or a kitty who purrs so loud you can hear her down the hall.  With that shift, life really opens us up to the possible.  Unlimited supply.

What are you grateful for?  Are you willing to express you gratitude?

Until next week...create to feel great!              

35 projects complete. 17 to go.

Project of the week...neckties!  For a friends daughter's wedding party.  There will be 8 in total.  Lovely green silk.

The Big Black Block

I have been writing and creating for this blog for getting close to 3 years.  Each week, I go merrily along my way.  I create and write and post. I let folks know I'm posting with a Facebook announcement.  I have some followers and there are comments, at times.

This last week, I discovered my Blogger account had been hacked.  I had one sick Blog on my hands.  I'm not the most savvy of computer users.  I know just enough to get me in trouble (and have fun).   This hacking and being listed as a harmful site was shocking and a little embarrassing to me.  Once I got over the denial. "This is a mistake.  It isn't happening to me.  Who would do this to a creativity/positive growth blog?"  The anger.  "Damn it Google.  Dam it Firefox.  Damn it non existent tech support!"  And the defeat.  "This doesn't matter.  No one reads what I write anyway.  It is just a stupid blog.  Might be time to hang it up."
Woza!  A classic creative, moving towards my dreams and goal block.  Staring at me in all it's nasty little ugly glory.  It was like the negativity monsters were giggling at me and having a great little party in my head.
This blog attack isn't personal.  The people who set these things up and attach sites with malware and all the other junk they have in their creative arsenal are after me.  They don't even know or care to know me. 
And I know folks read and enjoy my blog.  I love doing this blog.   My blog was sick it needed me to use my creativity to banish the negativity. 
Given my very limited and awkward knowledge of all things computer and tech related I didn't even know where to start.  I asked Broadside (who is my tech geek).  He rolled his eyes and said, "That's a mess.  You might want to just give this up."  Not the answer I was looking for.  
Time to employ some basic "get 'er done" creativity principals.  Time to check inside myself and pull up what is needed to fix this issue.
I asked myself...How curious am I being?  Am I asking questions or doing the research?  Or just tossing my hands up and walking away. 
How flexible am I being in my approach or thinking about this problem?  Just because I don't know a lot about computers and the lingo.  Doesn't mean I can't fix this.  I had to let go of the fact that I don't know everything and had to be willing to find out what I don't know.
Am I willing to get out of my Comfort Zone?  This means really focusing in an area I don't know about.  Almost like going to foriegn country.
Lastly, was I willing to devote the energy to this?  I asked myself how important is fixing this blog?  The thought crossed my mind to just walk away and NOT fix this problem.

As I headed into this new world of saving my blog, I looked at like an adventure.   I kept asking myself those four questions.  I kept asking Google questions.  I kept at the attempt to save my blog and rid it of the junk.   This morning, I did a Google search for my blog and the dreaded message that this site could harm your computer was gone.  I checked in on Blogger's WebMaster tools and got the message that I had no threats and my blog is once again healthy.
So, take that Malware and hackers!  Creativity does indeed banish negativity!  Score one for my team!!!
I feel really good about this and all I learned in the process.  I'm still no techno geek, but I can at least get around with the computers a bit better.

I'm going to start to use these questions with much more awareness for future issues and creations.

Are you facing an isssue or the big black block that is getting in the way of what you want for your life?
Are you willing to work with these questions and see where the outcome takes you?  I'd love to hear how that goes for you!

Until next week...create to feel great!              
34 projects complete! 18 to go!

This week I created a zipper bag out of red brocade.  I couldn't find a pattern I liked, so I made one myself. I hope the person I'm sending this to enjoys it.

Love The Feast

Love After Love

The time will come
When, with elation
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror,
And each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here, Eat,
You will love again the stranger who was your self,
Give wine. Give bread. Give your heart,
To itself, the the stranger who has loved you

All you life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart,
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your image from the mirror,
Sit.  Feast on your life.

Derek Walcott

Do you know and love the stranger who has loved you?  That stranger who was your self?  Are you ready to invite that self to feast on your life?

Until next week...

Create to feel great!                                                    
33 projects complete! 19 to go!

This week's project...a painted gnome for my garden, which is doing great!  I finished up eating radishes.  I waiting for peas and beets.   Tomatoes have blossoms as do the peppers.  And what in the world do I do with a HUGE parsley plant?   Maybe this gnome can help.

Whew! Whatta Challenge!

"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage.  The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict." ~William Ellery Channing

Mr. Channing you said a mouthful there!  I do believe there is a ton of truth in that quote.  I'm discovering that it is all in how I respond to the difficulties that makes the difference in me and my growth.  If I feel defeated or want to act like whatever difficulty is happening in my life isn't happening, it keeps popping up.  If I greet the difficulty with open arms, welcome it, not let it get the better of me and my mood and then engage my creative process to figure out a way through the difficulty- I do indeed grow and come out much stronger on the other end.  Forward movement is way better than sitting in depression.  Once again, it is all about my mind set and how I perceive what is going on in my life.

So, do we have to be strong people to life our lives?  No.  I think there are plenty of folks in this world who strengthening their spirit is the furthest thing from their minds and actions.  That is their choice.  It is not a choice I've been driven to at any point in my life.  I also think at some point we do get a call to action, that's why we are put here.  Again.. how do we respond to that call?  You know I'm going to respond with my creativity.
How do you or will you respond?

Until next week...create to feel great!

32 projects complete! 20 to go!

This week's project...butterflies.  It is about of an effort to help the Holocaust Museum of Houston with their display honoring and remembering the children who lost their lives in at the hands of Nazis during World War II.  There were 1.5 million children murdered.  There will be a butterfly for each of those children.  I will be sending a dozen.  Contact me if you would like to know how to contribute butterflies.  I think the display will be stunning when complete.

UPDATE- These are crocheted with wires added.  Very very quick and easy free pattern at
http://margarethubertoriginals.com/BUTTERFLY.html

Blissful

"Don't be afraid to follow your bliss and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be."
~Joseph Campbell

Ah, bliss.  That is such an easy word on the eyes and mind.  Just saying brings a sigh of release. A smile to the heart.  Bliss.  Why is it the such a lovely word is so scary?  I'm going out on a limb here, but I think most folks want that feeling of bliss in their lives. Yet what is really bliss? And where in the world do I find it?
Uh oh, it is in the moment.  Dang. You mean to tell me I can buy bliss? I can't force bliss?  I have to live and be aware in the moment?  Well, yes.  That pesky moment.  That here and now.  Learning to be in that place.  Then learning to follow where it takes us.  That is where great life journeys start and continue.  The moment is where all things come together.  Where bliss lives.

Summer is a great time to discover that feeling of bliss and what it means to us.  So, this is my annual ode to summer. Time to follow your bliss, whatever it maybe.  See the doors opening before you as you step into the warmth of the moment and create a great time for you. Not only for just a summer but for all your seasons.
Summer is just a great time to start.

What is your bliss?  Are you following it?  Is it opening doors for you and taking you places you never thought possible?  If you aren't experiencing all that, when would you like to start? (hint..now.)

Until next week...create to feel great!

31 projects complete. 21 to go.                         

Project this week...is a Dotee Doll.  This wonderfully little unique dolls, that are the rage on Swap-bot.
I made a Joan of Arc and a Cleopatra.  They are addictive to make and design.  My next one will be a mermaid. 

Love or Ego

This morning I had another insight about the creative process.  Here goes.  Creating anything from a place of ego, will wind up in frustration and fear.  Creating anything from a place of love, winds up going smooth and can be deemed a success.   Love is the place to work from.   Ego feeds on fear. Ego doesn't want anyone to succeed, it just needs to be fed.  Love feeds on more love.  Coming from a place of love everyone succeeds.  The creative well doesn't dry up.  Coming from love, the posibilities are endless. Ego shuts everything and everyone down. Folks might say, "Well, a strong ego means a strong confident person." I disagree big time.  Ego pops up when fear is in play.  It is how we cover up (not very well) that we are afraid of being found out and maybe not who we say we are.  Ego is a part of us, yet it is the fearful place in us. The side that is doesn't want the world to see who we really are for fear of not being accepted.
Love is all about joyful acceptance.  It brings out who we really are, warts and all.  If you are stuck.  Try loving the situation or person you are currently in. (sometimes very hard to do. Doesn't mean allowing them to run over you or abuse you.)  Most of all love you.
Operate from a place of love. Creative and life will flow.  End of insight.

Are you operating from a place of love or ego.

Until next week...create to feel great.

30 projects complete. 22 to go.   

This week's project is a new tote bag.   With a little owl. My own design!  Gold canvas.

Paint Crazy

In my quest of all things creative, I discovered this wonderful wonderful new local business called The Loaded Brush.  It a BYOB painting class.  Folks can have a glass of wine or beer or two or three and learn to paint a copy of a famous painting. I got a deal on Living Social and invited my friend Marilee to join me for an afternoon of creative fun.  It was a great time. The owner, Aaron is laid back, informative, and funny.  The studio is light and bright.  What I really appreciated about Aaron is that he honestly believes anyone can paint, create and have a ton of fun in the process.  We painted copies of The Chat Noir.  We didn't have wine or beer, but had a relaxing enjoyable afternoon.  I danced out of there feeling like I was a painter in Paris 1920's. As much creating  I do, I don't think of myself as a painter. (Well, I paint rooms in my house, but not an art painter.) I amaze myself every time I create a painting. As we were painting Aaron mentioned a term he calls "Paint Crazy".  That's when our negative voice rises up and says all sort of nasty blocking things.  Aaron suggested we step back, walk away, take a break in order to shut the voice down.  I was so in love with the moment and process, I didn't experience "Paint Crazy", until later in the week, when I was creating a costume for a show and suddenly everything I was putting together was wrong I felt like scrapping the entire show.  There it was "Paint Crazy".  Dang.  I stopped what I was doing.  Went for a walk. Did some yoga and made some dinner.  The craziness got so bad, it was making me cranky and bitchy. I picked a fight and yelled at poor Broadside. It took me a good night sleep and two more long walks, and I think I shook it.  This morning the costume that triggered this, looked good to me.  Finally!
My copy of The Chat Noir, looks awesome to me.  I want to paint more and will.
So, to Aaron at The Loaded Brush in SE Portland, I thank you for a fantastic afternoon, lessons on painting, making it easy for me to create something I'm proud of, and helping me realize the depths of "Paint Crazy."

Folks and Followers, if you live in Portland...check out The Loaded Brush.  I can not imagine you not having a great time and loving what you paint.  It might be a great way to put that "I'm just not creative" chatter to rest (which by the way is close friend of "Paint Crazy".)
Have you ever experienced "Paint Crazy"?  How do you shake it off?

Until next week...Create to feel great!
29 projects complete 23 to go!

And this blog post would not be complete without showing off my version of The Chat Noir!