HappyTrees Studio: grateful

Showing posts with label grateful. Show all posts

Sep 23, 2013

Wake Up and Get Grateful!

Be Grateful.

Everyday.

When you start to get pissy or down on yourself, think about what you really do have. I've found that I get a lot further in my life and I'm a lot happier when I remember the things that I have than the things that I don't have. Make it a practice to write three things that you are grateful for EVERYDAY.

Today I am grateful for:

My Life

My Family

My Creativity

Actually, this would probably be my list everyday. I'm so blessed, just for the fact that I woke up this morning! Then I look into my children's eyes, and I know, no matter what, someone loves me. If I didn't have kids, I'd know that my friends loved me. And I am super grateful for my creativity. For ALL creativity.I imagine that there is an invisible energy stream running through the universe, to me it kind of looks like the Northern lights, but it's everywhere, and I imagine that this is the "Universal Stream of Creativity." Everyone can tap into this stream of creativeness, you just have to want it. Sometimes, you tap in at the exact time as someone else, and you both have the same idea- even if they're in another country! Anyone who wants to be creative, can be.

So today, take a minute to think about what you are grateful for. And every time you start to say "Woe is me" come back to your list of blessings.

Dec 8, 2012

Saturday Project- Hand Carved Stamps

I've been hand carving stamps for my art journal, and I freaking love it sooo much! Making something with my hands and then being able to replicate it on all types of surfaces is so cool! Lately, I've been working on one of a kind stationary- greeting cards, postcards, bookmarks, and stamps just work perfectly with them. I love little letters of affirmation, and I get so excited when I receive something in the mail- It's my favorite.

I'm actually using a woodcarving set and some of my pottery tools to carve into the carving block. I just drew an image on a regular piece of paper, turned it over and scribbled on it- creating a transfer. Then I took an Exacto knife and cut the image down to a more manageable size on the block

- then just trimmed the bulk of the block away...carefully(!)... with the scoopy tool. When I finished I tapped out all of the crumbs and stamp away! So easy! The block was only 2.97 from Micheal's but you can order it here too.

As you can see from the images, I still lack a little practice at taking my time and getting crisp edges. But that will come the more I carve. And this is the third stamp out of 1 4x4 block! I'll keep at this one and perfect it! I hope this will help you see how easy this is to do, I was so intimidated till I finally tried! Easy Peasy!

Oct 17, 2012

Today I Believe

If you pull back my skin this is what you would see.

Today is the day I make a move...I have to decide which path at the fork in the road to take. And it looks like its going to be the one overgrown with weeds and briars, potholes everywhere. But i'm sure I can forge through and create a beautiful path with flowers along the sides and no feral animals in the wooded areas, it's just going to take me actually DOING the work. I tend to plan and dream and start...and fizzle...so my goal is to finish everything I set out to do today...and for the rest of my life! I need completion, but when you finish something- then it's open and bare and available to be criticized and judged...and that's something i'm still not comfortable with...the non-attachment to my work, my life, me...I think I've held the thought tight in the back of my mind, that if I'm always a work in progress, I can never feel the sharp sting of the criticism that's sure to follow. And who says there going to be criticism? Well, I can only assume my inner critic; that jerk that tells me constantly i'm NOT good enough, he's the ass that's been fueling my fears for 37 years. And I'm putting a stop to his whiny sniveling voice TODAY.

I AM ENOUGH

I AM AN ARTIST

I AM BEAUTIFUL

I AM A GOOD MOTHER

As I write these ~~mantras~~ statements, I KNOW that they are true, I own them, but then, right when I'm about to finish a project, I feel the fear creeping up on me, and I find something else, "more important" stuff to work on, procrastination...it's a hell of a crutch.

So no more!

I WILL BELIEVE...

in me

in my art

in my life

in my abilities

I'm awesome, I just sometimes forget it!

Jun 1, 2012

Grounded

I've finally realized that my gypsy days need to be over. That my roots are starting to form tight knots and furls underneath the grass and embedding themselves so deeply into the soil that they'll be no easy moving. I fought that for so long...thinking I'm going to be better here or there...but I'm best in ME and now that I'm finally coming to understand that I think it's time to work on my environment...my surroundings. I've really been given some amazing advice by my friend Rachel and I've decided to listen with all of me, not just my ears. I'm going to ACCEPT my surroundings and path, and TRUST that the Universe is taking care of me. I've always believed that, but there's been a tiny kernel of doubt lingering somewhere just near the back of my brain. That 'logic' part that tries not to trust or believe in anything...I've given in fully to faith and trust and thrown away all doubt. EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT! The path that forms ahead of me as each day develops is the right path for me, I know this because I'm only making decisions that feel right to me that are good for me and that I want to do. This is not a selfish way of thinking, it's just understanding that if I'm good and happy, I'll try to create that in everyone around me and hopefully the joy will shrug off me like glitter, and stick to every surface! This self-realization journey is by no means over, and I fully understand that it's a practice...like my art and meditation and yoga...I will always learn something new, and making adjustments for comfort are always allowed.