Creative JumpstART 2013

Here we go again.  I am pretty excited to share this with you! Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned I was doing a LOT of stuff but had nothing to show for it -- now I'm showin' a little sneaky peaky of what I was doing!! 

My sweet german friend Nat Kalbach organized another fun project for me to get involved with, it's called Creative JumpStart Summit 2013. You may remember my video from last year....and you may not ;-) 

Anyway, Nathalie had such a GREAT turnout and was so organized in gathering a wonderful group of artists for 2012 she decided to do it again! Can you believe that at the end CJS 2012 had over 4.500 subscribers last year!  I'm shooting for 4600 people by the end of today -- so get on over and sign up. I really enjoyed the daily inspiration during the cold and dreary month of January, I think this year will be even BETTER. I know I took my video a HUGE STEP further and you won't be disappointed!

So here is the scoop, so you can get in on it too!

January is approaching–a month that is full with promises, resolutions and intentions. A month that for many is following lots of holiday celebrations, family gatherings and other end-of-the-year events.

Come join us starting on January 1, 2013 for CJS 2013! Nat invited a group of wonderful, inspiring and creative ladies and gentlemen from around the globe in the mixed media and scrapbooking world to join together for the Creative Jump Start Summit 2013. We are all coming together to show you some ways to get back into the creative groove and how to get your creative juices flowing. We want to share with you “3 Ways to …” help you jump-start your creativity in 2013.

Wanna see who else is participating?? Just watch this ;-D

The Creative JumpStart Summit 2013 Trailer from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

Here’s what you get and how it works:

1. Throughout January we will share videos showing tutorials to inspire you –
2. You sign up for the Creative JumpStart 2013 newsletter HERE and, in January 2013, you will receive  a daily link and password to unlock the view of the materials as soon as they go live
3. On some days our Sponsors will have a giveaway for you and you will receive two newsletters these days
4. You watch the presentations and you will be hopefully inspired to be more creative—all for FREE! If you like it you can donate to the cause – check it out here.

So come on—get inspiration from some of the most creative people in the community
What are you waiting for? (Did I mention it’s FREE?)

there's a time for LMN....

I know I've been quiet. When I have big struggles going on inside my head and heart I have a tendency to disappear from my blog, email, facebook -- everywhere. I kind of disappear into myself and away from what I do. I know that's not the best way -- but having all the distractions doesn't help me work it out.

My struggles are mostly with myself.
my art.
my career.
where am I going with this.
and even.
why do I bother. sometimes. many times all the time. these are the questions that run like a freight train through my head. why.  who wants it? who do you do this for? you? me? them?

    

And then I have a day where I can't bring myself to get dressed. i'm exhausted -- both physically and emotionally. Lifetime Movie Network stays on all day.  the couch is my best friend along with my sweet dog that snuggles next to my side and doesn't judge. she just loves me -- pajamas or dressed, teeth brushed or not, for what I am.

and I ask myself. why can't I love me that way. completely. whole-heartedly, unconditionally? why do I doubt and question what I do. why can't I just do it? do all artists have this persistent self-doubt?

on these days I find myself drawing.  scribbling. doodling. finding a place for my emotions to rest. I look at this time of quietness and reflection as a way of letting things rest until they are really ready to be poured.

I've been trying to come to a place of acceptance to where I am now, where I want to go and why I do this. the quietness is a way of letting what I have done in the past mature, percolate. the drawing is sort of a meditation process. a way of connecting with patterns in the world and putting them on paper.

 

it feels like when I let that solitude and contemplation do it's own thing,  art like this happens. yes. I admit it -- I used my pencil but I erased it so shhhhh don't tell Alex. After a day like this I come back refreshed and ready to grasp all that this business has to offer.

I think the lengthy break I took from the brightly painted journal pages i created in the spring/summer has brought me to this. I'm not sure where to go with it now, but I have a few ideas.

I think we all NEED time for inner reflection.
What do you do when you need some time to work out troubles in your life?

THANKS for stopping by - have a GREAT day and stay warm -- it's snowing out there! 

December Whatevers

Before I get started with my post for the Whatevers, I just wanted to mention that my heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers in the senseless tragedy in Newtown Connecticut this weekend. I can't even begin to understand how a person could hurt such young and innocent children let alone adults. My prayers are with everyone that is touched by this awful event.

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  It's that time of the month -- when we release the Whatevers and this month I've collaged FIVE different vintage photographs together to create this fun holiday page. I was short on time, so it's only a single page this month -- maybe I'll get the second page created for New Year, we'll see. 

  When you are done reading what Newton and Winnie are up to you can click on over and read what Nat and Vicki created!
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Click here to see what Nat made from the photo this month!
Click here to see what Vicki made from the photo this month!
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Newton was pretty happy, all things considered. His father was still away in India and his Mother had just left for several months to join his father in the hospital.     Winnie was driving him crazy. 
He was still in Germany. 
At the castle. 
With his grandparents. 
the Count and Countess. 
urgh.