Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Productive and creative mode..



Lately I have noticed how drawn I have been to the colors of turquoise and teals. It shows up in my work, my pick of clothes, my accessories, and things I am drawn to pick up or look at. Is it due to the lack of color this winter? Or the longing to be back on a sandy beach watching the greenish blue waters wash up on the shore? Whatever underlying reason, I gravitate to it, and it gives me a calming effect for it to be in my vision.

So today when I walked outside to take the boys to practice I noticed something that caught my eye. My teal colored bird bath had melting ice in it, in a perfect circle. I knew I had to catch that image. When will that ever happen again, to have not only my favorite color but my favorite geometric shape in one glance? I know the simplest things make my day. :)





There are times in life when you just have to slow down and take in what is around you. My last months have been busy on top busy and I know why I am piling it on myself. It is because I want the time to pass quickly and I think that putting so much on my plate is the answer to that. But its not and we learn the hard way when our body finally tells us we have to slow down when you get sick. I am getting better from the flu but the residing headaches still get to me. I keep telling myself my "to do" list is not a life or death situation that I can put it to the side but the A-type personality I have makes me feel so unaccomplished when I do. Yet, I put things to the side that could make my mood better and be a happy type of busy. So I thought long and hard and I will take a plunge on a couple things I have been waiting to do. I learned that doing little things for myself doesn't impede on being a Mom or a Wife and I need those moments to re-energize or relax me.

With that said I am so excited to say I will be taking two classes one starting tomorrow night in the arts.
I will be dropping into a belly dance class that is being offered twice a week at a fitness center near me. The instructor teaches the Pure American Tribal Style that I have been wanting to learn. I took classes in Alaska in the Egyptian and Oriental style and looked forward to every class with the amazing women that taught and danced with me and gave me something to look forward to for myself during our hectic weeks. I am so happy to have found an instructor here that I don't need to drive 50 plus miles just to take a class. Although despite being excited I am also nervous of going back out there and meeting new people. I know I have to take that plunge or else I will regret not even trying.

I dragged my coin skirts out tonight and my lyric sandals and set it up in a bag for the class. Its nice to hear the jingling coins again and to see the beautiful colors of the scarves.


My other venture is an Ecourse in painting! :) I found this awesome class that will encompass 5 weeks of a painting course all online. For me that is great considering my time restraints. So I am looking forward to focus on a class that will be filled with not only skills but inspirations from other artists that make a living off their art. Besides that it will be so much fun! It is called Get Your Paint On and is open to beginners and experienced painters.

Now that January is almost over, I am starting to realize that I have to stick to my goals that I had put for myself. The main one was to stay creative in every way I can. I have works and pieces that are half done because of one reason or another, main reasoning to be due to no motivation or a creative block. Instead of hiding them in closets I have put them out in plain view so I can remind myself that it is either a continuing piece or its done.

Here are a couple of those pieces that will hopefully be finished soon.


And this means my table leg dolls will actually start having a little more personality to them. :)



My art room will eventually get messier than this..but I can at least shut the door and not have my clean freak critic come out when I am in the middle of finishing up projects.

In a nutshell I will in productive creative mode. And looking forward to it. :)

I will then leave you with this saying:

(Excuse the crookedness of the picture I tried to take it the best way I can)

I love this saying and picked this up from a street artist in Louisville. It hangs above my art room door and it so cheerful to look at and a reminder that you have to see life in color even when it seems to lack it.

I hope you all have a great midweek.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Update Jan. 25th of 2011

It has been a busy week into the weekend, but I wouldn't trade that kind of time for anything else when its spent with my boys. We had the North Hardin Invitational this Saturday and both boys placed 4th in each of their weight classes and our team took 2nd. Then we woke up Sunday to find out that Nick was featured in the front page of the sports section! :) So this was his week. :) Besides that he also placed last weekend at the Lafayette 5 star classic. Its just I wasn't there to take pictures. :(

So here is a little snippet of those moments...





Jared's cool singlet he was able to wear for the tournament. :) Its called Mythic Magic. All the coaches and wrestlers loved it. :)




Jared not wasting any time pinning his opponents.


Nick getting ready for his match.




Nick pinning one of his opponents.


Jared on the podium taking 4th in 103 and a teammate taking 2nd.


Nick on the podium taking 4th in 112 in a highly competitive weight class.


Our CHHS team taking 2nd in the Invitational.


My handsome Coffell boys. I am so proud of them that they put their dedication and heart into all they do.


Nick's feature in the paper. :)


I hate how Bo is missing all this and can only see the events through pictures and that is if he even has time to download them to see them. I have two more sports to get through without him around. :( But despite his absence I am so proud of the boys that they are still going strong and achieving the goals they have set for themselves. My heart melts every time I see them help each other on things or help their friends and teammates. Regions is coming up soon. Nick has a chance at state for his weight class.:)

On to other things....
The other week I bought a ring from a friend on here, Cassie. http://mbjewelry.blogspot.com/ :) I have always wanted one of her rings but knew I would have to special order one since my fingers are so small. Well this ring caught my eye and it seemed just so appropriate of a word for the start of this year.

I received it all packaged up so cute!


I have been wearing it everyday since then. :)


These gray days are working on my mood but I am trying to stay motivated and creative. I finally started my triptych for the living room and actually moved my stuff to the living room so I have more natural light and so it forces me to work on it little by little everyday.

Here is the progression...






I am not sure when this will be done. I will work on it as time allows and my patience of having my stuff out in the living room prevails. LOL! This is just the first layering. What is the end result may not even look anything remotely close to how it started.

Really looking forward to the weather drying up! It snowed then rained! So we have a mess outside. :(

Spring please come soon. I need color and warmth!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Bazaar



I have been sick lately. :( Yeah the whole flu symptoms type of stuff. It finally got to a point today where I seriously could not function and just laid in bed thinking where is the sun and please make all this dreary wet and cold weather go away! But you know how it is, a Mother can never just lay around. So up I went running errands and picking up the boys. We made grilled cheese sandwiches and had chicken soup and mac and cheese from Panera Bread. I just wanted something simple but warm.

With all the gray and neutral colored days lately it was nice to receive an email from my husband full of color. He checked out a local bazaar held on the base every Sunday. He said it was raining that day too but the colors on the textiles popped. :) For now he just took pictures to give me an idea of what is around. Of course they have some booths where its the knock off items but he passes those booths up and looks for the real handcrafted items or the neat things.

Bags-I love all the colors!





Rugs









Dresses







Jewelry





Other crafts







My day was brightened up not only from an email from him but also with the colorful pictures he gifted me with. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Silence...



Yes I am still around.... I was really sick this weekend but getting through it now. Despite being busy with the kids and some deadlines that I had to get through, there are moments more often now, that I find myself just enveloped in silence. I remember times when I would have craved to have solitude, but lately it has come with a realization that I really am on my own most of the day and it does become lonely.

I have teenage boys who are their own social lives and busy schedules that even if I am there with them I am not a participant of it, just an observer. I am also grateful of the times that my husband can communicate with me but at the same time it is still a reminder of how far away he really is and how no matter how much I try to keep a straight face and a strong heart the emotions of missing someone that is really a part of your life can become overwhelming.

I try to stay as busy as I can but there are those moments where I find myself alone. I know the days will pass.....just wished it passed faster.



As the season passes from the quiet winters and gray days, I will welcome spring with open arms when I can finally hear the song birds by my window, the spring rains, and the buzzing of bees. I never thought I would miss such sounds and miss the visual energy of blooming flowers and butterflies in the garden.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

January 9, 2011



As I caught this reflection of a beautiful Kentucky sunset on your truck, I think of it as another day that has passed, which means another day closer to when you will once again be in my arms.



Missing you greatly my dear!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

An end to 2010 and a welcome to 2011


January 2011

I cannot believe 2010 has come and went. Although I was counting down so that the new year can start and we as a family can finally countdown for Bo's return. The holidays were busy. After our wrestling tournament we had Christmas then another wrestling tournament out of town which I was so happy Jared took 5th place at.



Then the next holiday of New Year's came around. New Years Eve is special not only because of the upcoming new year but because Nick turned 17 yrs old. Can you believe I have a 17 yr old? So we celebrated it with taking him and a couple of their wrestling friends out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant followed by cake and ice cream at the house and the guys playing games all night long. I am just glad Nick enjoyed his day.

Guys at the restaurant


Embarrassing Nick for his birthday. :)


The guys


Nick and I


Blowing out his candles


The 1st day of January 2011 came with taking down all the Christmas stuff. There wasn't a glitter in site after I was done. Even if it was a bit sad to have this season go by I was so ready to take down the holiday decorations. It was nice to have a nice clean and organized home again.

I have a blank wall waiting for new art and some charms sitting on my jewelry table waiting to be turned into a charm bracelet. New year and new goals and intentions and this time I will keep track of it like I do with my "to do" list. :) This will guarantee me having to cross it off the list. :)

We have had snow again but our sunsets have been gorgeous with bright peach to pink skies. Always a treat when I leave to get the boys from practice.

January skies


I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and are ready for 2011 to be a great year. :)