This & That

I’m 95% Pollyanna and I’m “glad” (see what I did there) to see the bright side of things. It just makes me feel good. I’ve was a negative Nelly in my early 20’s and I decided that’s not how I want to live my life so like my friend Karen says, “I choose to be happy.” It is a choice and I’m all the better for it.

I don't get to visit this lovely person often as she lives in #Canada. I'm fortunate to own a piece of her #pottery. Jesse Weise is multi talented artist who is one of the kindest people I've ever met. Check out her Etsy shop WeiseArts. #dancer #teacher #potter www.etsy.com/ca/shop/WeiseArts

I had a lovely lunch with a dear friend of mine the other day. And we discussed insecurities or more so,  my insecurities and what’s going on with me at the moment in my creativity. She sent me an email with this piece she wrote years before and  it  hit home. It was just what I needed to hear. I’m sure I’m not the only one that could benefit from reading this lovely piece of written word.

I decided to share it with all of you and hopefully it resonates with you as much as it did me. And if it doesn’t now I will leave it right here for you to stumble across when you need it.

Thank you Nancy Robbins for the kind, uplifting words. Some days I just need to be reminded.

Rebecca Lansdown Collins is a mixed media mosaic artist. She counts herself among the fortunate in that she has been able to create a life that she loves. A commercial artist by day, she runs a successful pet portraiture studio. By night, indulging her true love, creating mixed media mosaics that explore a wide variety of themes and subjects. Check out her Etsy Shop.

There are times I wonder if a workshop is more of a one-time event that can last hours or days and is more of an intensive study, where a class is a repeated event on the same subject meeting multiple times. Does that make a difference to you?

I realize that it doesn’t really matter but it’s just on of those things that takes up space in my mind.

I was watching something on TV when I heard this line, “Few good decisions are made between midnight and dawn”. It struck me and stuck with me. I was like, that is totally true. When I pondered this statement at 4am I had to rethink my views on it. I was looking at it for my younger self who was probably inebriated between midnight and dawn and making horrible decisions. Looking at this statement as an older and wiser person, hopefully,  it doesn’t apply to me anymore. Usually getting old sucks but in this instant I’m grateful I survived my middle of the night decisions. Also, I’m fortunate that I grew up in a time when we didn’t have cell phones and internet. Just sayin’.

What a great list. If only someone had mentioned this to me years ago. I was so bullheaded and thought I knew everything when I was young. Back then I called it confidence, today I call it arrogance. Even now many moons later it’s a good list to reference.

There is way more I which I’d been told but somethings you have to find out for yourself in your own time.

I meet Helen years ago when she was my best friend Krista’s roommate in Scotland. I’d only hung out with her for a few days but have followed her and her career since. I’m so glad I did. She is amazing. She now lives in Australia and paints the landscape that surrounds her. She opened up a gallery of her work in her hometown of Mullewa, I hope to visit it someday but for now I’ll just have to be content with getting her paintings online.

I’m really digging teaching. More than I ever imagined I would. I think I love that every class is different. Even if I’m teaching the same thing. The not knowing how it will turn out is a turn on for me. It keeps things interesting.

Janice tots herself as a potter and she is fantastic. I know what you see here isn’t pottery but I wanted to show you a few of the other things that she creates. It’s all so fun, inventive, and colorful.  She is a delight to chat because as her enthusiasm lights up the dullest of days. You can find her work on IG @potterybyjanice and at #makersconnect in Dallas, Tx