April in Paris

I am in the process of taking a leap of faith....working on living the life I envision for myself.
I am participating in an e~course given by Marisa (from Creative Thursday) and her beau Sean. They are teaching the course from Paris, where they are actualizing their dream of living in Paris for a month.

The first step in our journey is asking the question of myself......"What is it that I really want to do?"
And how can I find the courage to take action and embrace change.
I have so many small things that I am fearful of.....just keeping up with writing in this blog is a big leap for me.

Here is my list of things I want to do:
~Live smaller.
~Take Yoga classes.
~Sell most of my extra vintage stuff left over from my shop Decades Ago~Go.
~Ride my bike a lot.
~Expand my lines of jewelry so that I can wholesale to galleries (maybe!!).
~Be more organized.
~Travel to Italy with John.
~Eat more vegetables.
~Create more one of a kind jewelry.
~Set more stones.
~Wake up earlier.
~Loose a few pounds (I thought I would add this to the list!!).
~Journal and write morning pages daily.
~Unplug the rabbit ears on the TV.
~Apply to more local craft shows.
~Blog regularly.
~Take more pictures and figure out how to print and organize them.

I am sure more ideas will come to me as the weeks go by.


I have chosen to focus these next few weeks on committing to creating more one~of~a~kind jewelry pieces.
I would like to spend the time to make jewelry with more components, stones, handmade chain & extra detail.
I have the skills to do it but feel like I don't give myself the space and time to create really special pieces.
Is it fear? Why do I feel stuck creatively? I will be exploring my fears and working towards making this exciting change in my life and work.

Marisa and Sean posed the question "Do you feel like most people in your life are doing what it is they really want to be doing?
Are they living their dreams?
I wanted to ask, are you?
Would you like to come along with me to Paris and take a leap into one of your dreams?

I appreciate you reading this and coming along with my on my journey.
~Laura

Monday's Inspiration

I woke up this morning and checked in on some of my favorite blogs. Seems like the universe is pointing me in the direction of following my passion and challenging myself....
Here are my two inspirations...

So, Sherry
Sherry Truitt is a fellow metalsmith who is exploring enameling and infusing her designs with color. In her blog post today she speaks of challenging herself to break free from creating the expected.

Next, I found this video on Poppytalk today and had to share it with you all.
I remember reading Etsy's feature interview with Sharon Montrose and feeling such a sense of warmth when I looked at her photographs. Etsy has filmed a handmade portrait of Sharon at work. Seeing her speak about her passion just made me smile and feel inspired to infuse more passion into my work.




I hope these artists inspire you in some way as well.
~Laura

walking in Fairmount

Fairmount is a cool neighborhood just north of Center City. If you go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art be sure to head east a few blocks and check it out. Beautiful old row houses.....and giant mansions. It is also the home of Mugshots, where you can get a really good cappuccino.
Trees are blooming and daffodils are smiling!

Elizabeth Gilbert on the Creative Mystery

I just came across this Ted Talk on Beth Hemmila's blog.
It was just what I needed to hear........
so, I thought it would be good to share it with you all.

When I began blogging I was (an still am) fearful about sharing my thoughts.
What will I have to say or share that is so important, I would ask myself? Will I be able to say it thoughtfully and eloquently?
Sometimes with my work it is the same way. How do I let go of my fears that hold me hostage and open myself up to the creative flow of the universe?
After listening to Elizabeth, my new tactic is going to be to show up, unafraid, and do my part.....then let the glimpses of
wonder show themselves to me.

Tulips

working and walking in silence,
the tulips inspire me
to blossom today.

Warmth!

It is so funny to me that a Sunny Day with 50 degree weather is WARM!
I headed out for a walk to the post office and here is what I found.


a bouquet of colorful wire

peace to you

looking back

tuft of fabric caught in the fence

sirens......emergency!!

waiting

tiny buds

heading back home under the bridge

bolt detail....beautiful patina

just look.....
the beauty is in the details.

Thank you for coming along with me, Laura

Seventeen Things to Do to Kickstart Creativity

Inspired by a fellow "Ring a Day" friend and metalsmith, I have decided to make a list of Seventeen things to Kickstart creativity.






1) Write morning pages.
2) Go on an Artist Date with myself....out to a museum, soak up the displays at Anthropologie, enjoy a cappuccino.
3) Walk the dog.
4) Take a drive.
5) Fall asleep with a note book by my bedside.....write what comes up.
6) Look at art books ~ Miro, Calder, Jensen (these are some of my favs).
7) Walk in the woods, walk to the post office, walk, walk ,walk!
8) Avoid the computer as much as possible!
9) Take my camera with my when I go on outings, photograph neat happenings in my surroundings.
10) Take a bath without guilt.
11) Go thrift shopping or flea marketing.
12) Read a good book, fiction, magical realism, historical fiction.
13) Have a bead therapy day...string beads, revel in the colors and gems.
14) Get to the studio and just work on tasks that need to be done, this will usually jumps me into thinking creatively.
15) Look through my collection of found objects, stones and antiques for ideas.
16) Just do it.....the idea is not to think too much and just sit down to create.
17) Join a group of creatives with a challenge....for me it is the Ring a Day 2010 flickr group. RAD is a group of 280 artists from all over the world making a ring a day for 1 year. I am so happy to have joined and it has most definitely Kick~Started my creativity!

I wanted to share this list with you and inspire you to make your own list.
I plan to keep my list in my studio (maybe near the computer too!!) to remind myself of the things I need to do to give myself a little kick in the pants.
I also want to add that taking care of myself, by eating healthfully and exercising, is part of the picture. Two more things I need to remind myself each day.
~Laura

ps... I like to remind myself that I am perfect just as I am. I try not to compare myself to others (which can kill creativity).
Additionally, I would like to learn to meditate.