A winter story...

A winter story..., a photo by Kate Daniel on Flickr.

I don't know what it is about getting away...but being in unfamiliar territory brings out the creative in me. Maybe it's the slowing down, maybe it's the change of scenery, maybe it's just the magic of the unknown. I'm having fun playing with my iPhone this weekend...in the middle of nowhere Alberta...prairies. This lonely pitchfork called to me...so I layered it with a photo of a nearby building. I love this story. The "winter on the prairies" story.

I road a wild donkey today!

I road a wild donkey today!  And what does that mean?  It means, I had an idea...I started a project...and rather than doing part of it and finishing it later, I road the wild donkey until it was done.

Man, does it ever feel good to finish something!

I can't show you my finished piece just yet because it's a bit of a surprise.  But here's a glimpse at the encaustics that I was cooking up this afternoon:

For more on wild donkeys head over HERE.  

A gentle reminder today...

I'm back!

Photo by Elizabeth Halt

I know, I didn't know I was leaving either...until the days ticked by...and by...and suddenly it looks like I've been gone for a while.

From this online space, anyway - not from the real world stuff.  I basically had to "check out" here to "check in" elsewhere.  So it goes.

What I realized though, is that while I say I've been "out of the creative loop" lately, I've still been creative - in other ways.  More of that to come in the future.  Right now I want to share some things that I've been loving lately!

1.  Let's start with this gorgeous photo above!  It's courtesy of my friend, Elizabeth, who has started the neatest thing...it's A GRAB BAG of IMAGES.  Basically, you purchase her images (digital files) - for whatever price you feel is fair - and use them as you wish!  It's the coolest concept - sharing her beauty with the world - go check it out!

2.  Goddess Leonie is one of those names that I had seen in the e-world quite a bit but never checked out.  But when I found out about the World's Biggest Summit that she was hosting I couldn't NOT listen in.  A little secret about me: I'm addicted to podcasts about creativity & creative souls.  I usually fill my well by listening to Creative Living with Jamie every week, but The Summit had 100 people in one month!  Crazy.  I was so excited to see that Jamie Ridler was one of them.  The past 6 weeks have involved A LOT of highway driving for me...and let me just say that the only reason I'm still sane is because of these podcasts.

3.  Check out this camera strap.  I can't believe that Michelle Allen is actually giving away her camera strap(s)!  When I met Michelle at Artfest last year, it was one of first things that drew me to her.  :)  And I've been thinking about that strap ever since.  Ok, maybe I'm a little weird.  But anyway, I was catching up on blogs the other day & saw that she's having a contest to give it away.  Perhaps it will be a serendipitous moment for me.  :)  But if you want to get in on the fun then check out the details on her blog.

Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world...I've missed you all!

Waiting..

Tell me, what are you waiting for?  

ElectraVibe

ElectraVibe, a photo by Kate Daniel on Flickr.

Letting go...pushing past the comfort zone. Sometimes it takes a push from a friend. I just had to share this latest creation that I created for Vivienne's Swan Dive class. It's totally unlike anything I've done before - and I like it!

She let go

She let go

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go. She didn’t search the scriptures. She just let go. She let go of all of the memories that held her back. She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward. She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.

No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.

- Ernest Holmes

I am taking a leap...won't you please follow me here:  http://www.facebook.com/k8danielART

Much love.