Podcasts

Just ‘Cause

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Fall has arrived.

The air is crisp and I’m finding myself reaching for a sweater through out the day.
I love it.

I have fallen out of the routine of coming to my studio. This past week I was hibernating and it seemed harder to stretch back out into the world-even to the studio I love. It felt as if I had just broken the habit of going and needed to get that started again. I see now though it was a bit more.

My mind had fallen back into production mode. I was silently thinking of what should be accomplished when I get to the studio. I made some really awesome digital artwork last week that I’m really proud of. I am imagining it to be the first collection I share and I was so caught up in what it was supposed to be that I couldn’t get myself back into the practice of making art again.

Digital art feels different to me somehow.
It feels ready made for production and profit.
The art I make with paper, paints and by hand feels more intimate, personal. Like it’s created to reach people, inspire them.

I don’t say this as a statement of fact. It is simply how the process feels to me and how this perception of mine colors my creative process.

I have to realign again with making art simply to enjoy making art.
To paint for no other reason than to enjoy playing with color.
To write because I enjoy telling a story and to share that writing because others might enjoy reading it.

So this week I am focusing on some time to re-connect with my art. To enjoy her once again and to play, once again, without worrying where it will lead but rather to trust the process. One tangible product I am working on is setting up my podcasts onto a new site. I’ll still host them here but the new site will offer some editing software along with the chance to be found on another platform. It will also allow for you to listen on your favorite streaming service so if that’s something you have been looking for I hope to have it up and running soon.

My birthday is this Friday and I am making more time this week for the creative practices I love most. I am hoping to play in my, “Year of Me Journal,” maybe do some writing. I am also doing a bit of a birthday “advent calendar” where each day from Monday-Friday I am going to do something special to mark the lead up to my birthday. Tonight, while making some art in my chilly studio (need to bring a space heater I think) I plan to watch “Hocus Pocus” one of my favorite movies ever. I am less excited for the second one now that I know they didn’t bring back the 3 kids from the original movie. I’m sure I’ll still watch it. Have you seen it? Please let me know if you liked it or not below.

That’s it for me. Wishing you a lovely, creative week!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Sharing a New Podcast and Pulling in More Creativity

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Today I managed to have a play with a few different mediums and it felt so nice.

I worked on a new story in a new notebook that is dedicated to a brand new project which feels so fun! I cannot wait to share more of it with you.

I did some research in alignment with this same project and was learning a bit about 1930’s radio programs. I also found a fun behind the scenes video that was made in the 1950’s that was very interesting. You can watch it here.

I recorded a new podcast-something I would love to make a weekly or almost weekly endeavor. It’s about 20 minutes long and I share a bit more about my new project as well as some that will be coming up on the horizon. I also chat a little about pulling in more and more creativity into my days in simple and gentle ways.

I worked in some of my mini art journals as part of a class I am taking with Alisa Burke. While I was reviewing my podcast I had fun just adding some paint to paper and “prepping my pages” as Alisa says.

I also did a little puttering in the garden. Cleaning up and putting away some of the seedling trays that had been littering the yard. I also started putting the fencing around my garden but am going to wait for a second opinion (i.e ask my husband when he gets home) since it looks like it may not be quite as sturdy as I had hoped.

I hope you manage a little creative time today-if only 5 minutes. You totally deserve it and I hope you can find some space for it. Wishing you a lovely day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Podcasts, Postcards and Playing

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Happy Monday.

I am sitting in a sun filled room, at a messy desk with a cup of tea that is getting cold. There are lots of things I should be doing. I probably should be starting dinner. I should probably fold and put away some laundry. I should probably clean something-or a hundred somethings. I should probably be outside getting some fresh air.

Instead I am doing what I am feeling.

I am feeling that some time with my creativity is where my attention needs to be right now.
I am feeling that tea can be reheated, laundry can always be folded and there will always be something to clean.
So those things can wait.

I am feeling that the call of my creativity really and truly matters.
I am feeling that I have spent far too much of my adult life doing what other people said I should be doing instead of following through on what I was feeling called to do.

I am feeling that that no external validation of me, my work or how I spend my time is needed for it to be a value. For it to be important to the world in ways I could not possibly know or understand.

I am feeling that when one person chooses to do what they are truly called to do they make, in that very moment, magic that ripples out into the world and changes things for the better.

I am feeling that when a creative person does their thing the energy of that inspires countless others to follow suit-like an energetic ripple that tears through the Universe, unseen but felt.

And that each time that ripple touches another and they also choose to do their thing that they also send out a ripple. And so on and so on.

I believe these creative ripples can spread faster than any viral video and best of all-hold lots more staying power. This is where change initiates. This is the fertile soil where dream seeds are planted and hope is inspired in others. Creativity does all this. It matters. Yes yours matters.

Even if you don’t share it with anyone.
Even if no one hearts it or thumbs it.
You see, each moment that a creative person does what they were put here to do-they make magic true and real.
They start the movement of giant cosmic gears to shift and change and bring about light, love and joy.
Your creativity matters so much. Even if you don’t think it does-it does.
It matters to you.
It matters to me.

Here’s to play time.

Until next time…

–Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

P.S.

I recorded a new podcast today. You can listen here if you like.