Rebecca Sower

renewing

Outside my window, the sun shines and the world is beginning to come back to life.

And with that new life, I feel new energy.  Maybe even enough to begin some much-needed spring cleaning around here?  We'll see.

Do the first signs of spring do that for you too?

 

I have many pieces in the works in my studio that I'm anxious to finish.  They silently sit and they patiently wait while I put just about everything else before them.  But that's okay, it will have to be okay for now anyway.  What else can I do?

Thank you so very much, each of you, who commented to win the "love" necklace from my last post.  Wow, so many beautiful words of encouragement.  Yes, I read each and every one.  The randomly-chosen winner, Bonnie, has already been contacted and I'm looking forward to hearing back from her.  And for all of you who contacted me about purchasing similar pendants, I am planning to make several to place in my etsy shop so please check back with me.  Wow, I am so grateful to you all.  Truly grateful.

small things

I know each of us feel this sometimes.  This brimming over with ideas of projects and pieces, all boiling and burning in us until we have the time to get in our studio and actually bring them to fruition.  I have yet to decide upon which is worse...artist's block or the plethora of motivation and ideas but real life pulling us to the point of not being able to create.  Which is where I am now.  I am feeling an almost physical pull toward my studio, but must push it aside to help with my son's science project or take a daughter to practice or, well on and on and on...you know, you've been there or are there now.

So I try to do small things.  Small things while the bigger things are trying to pound their way out.  But they have grown accustomed to waiting.  and waiting...and waiting...

Small things...

 

...just to keep my creative soul partially appeased...

  

...and to try to keep up with real life at the same time.

Real life is good.  Really good.  And holds its own measure of creativity, of course it does.  But sometimes...

Well, I knew you'd understand.

shades of pale

I think I heard the house breathe a huge sigh this morning.  It happened at exactly the same time my son stepped onto the school bus.  For the first time in about 3 weeks, I am all alone in my home (ahhhhh....).

Yes, it's been three full, fun weeks of a busy kitchen, teenagers and rowdy boys, loud music, games, suitcases being packed and unpacked, parties, doors slamming, cars coming and going, late nights and of course, rock band (I'm getting pretty good on those drums I might add).  Really, we've had a blast.

but...

the calm is descending, and wow this feels nice.

The first place I headed was my studio.  Cobwebs have been forming in there and I've missed it so.  The pale, soothing palettes have been speaking to me.  Well, they always have I suppose.  Pulled together a few items to create a small inspiration piece.  So many shades of white and cream, and so lovely together that I sit and stare for a moment and it calms me.  And inspires me to get busy.  So much I want to do on this rainy, dreary, bleak midwinter day.

Hope it's calm and warm where you are.

impending calm

Each year, as soon as the last gift is opened, something deep within breathes a little sigh of relief.  I love Christmas, the holiday.  I don't love Christmas, the chaos.

For the first time in several weeks, I was able to sneak up to my studio yesterday to play around.  Youngest daughter with me, she with her colored pencil artwork and I with paints.  I began mixing colors for backgrounds and base pieces, nothing too serious.

  And again was amazed by the calmness triggered by a few paint colors.  How telling that I gravitated toward the serene.  These colors being a little winter and just a hint of spring.  I know winter hasn't finished her performance here in Tennessee farm country.  But those days give us permission to stay indoors and step away from the whirl of it all for a moment.  And then there's spring and all the hope it brings, lovely spring and its fresh air and scents of green earth.

Still some family holiday visits, then a trip with a gang of fun teens from church, after that the kids go back to the school routine.  So the very best brand new year to each of you, and I will see you in 2009.