Something just for you blog lovers…

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There is something I love about blogs. The writing, the sharing that feels a bit more intimate and cozy.
Then of course there is the discovery of a blog. While promotion in all its varied forms leads readers to a blog the ones you just somehow, someway stumble upon are probably the most rewarding.

Like finding a little cafe that you just love off the beaten path that no one else you know seems to have found yet.

I have some truly exciting news and I decided that I wanted to share it here first in a quiet sort of way with those of you dedicated blog readers. The announcement will be made elsewhere eventually but sharing it here feels a bit like getting together with best friends to celebrate an accomplishment. Before I share the news however, I need to give you some back story so if you just need to know what it is right now you can jump here to find out 🙂

I was about 8 years old when I first started writing. I co-wrote a poem with a lady named Ms. Crooker who was a bit like a surrogate grandmother to me. She was a teacher and even though retired she still taught-and I personally loved every minute.

She is the one who taught me how to read out-loud. How long to pause after a comma, (“count, 1, 2”) and after a period, (“count 1, 2, 3”). She would sit in the rocking chair in our living room when we had her over for dinner and I would sit in her lap and she would read with me. I’m not positive if that’s where my love of reading came from (my dad loved to read and I believe it’s just in some people’s DNA) but I do know that she is the first person to teach me how to construct a poem.

The first poem I ever wrote was about my Cabbage Patch Dolls. I still have it in a box of poems in my attic. I will have to share it with you sometime soon. We are going through our attic and doing a MAJOR de-clutter and organize. 22 Years of memories and toys and etc are lost up there and we are making changes. That story however, is for another time.

So Ms. Crooker and I wrote the poem together. If I am honest, she did most of the writing as she was a bit of a perfectionist-even when writing poems about Cabbage Patch Dolls with an 8 year-old. Still, I was very proud and the love for writing was planted.

Ms. Crooker & I on the left & Me and my first CPK doll-Tina-who still sits on my bed

I never not thought of myself as a writer. (Even if I am obviously not a master of grammar).  I never really cared to be an overly polished writer or one of the “greats” because truth be told-that wasn’t what I enjoyed reading. Still isn’t.

I just always wanted to tell an interesting story or write a poem that made someone feel something. How any of it was received was for the reader and I never wanted to tell anyone what my poems meant because I just felt like that was ruining the poetry. Isn’t art supposed to mean something different to everyone?

As for me? I just like writing words on paper and making stories appear as if from nowhere.

So I wrote and wrote and wrote some more. I love the act of writing and have always dreamed of when I was an adult and would be a published writer. At the time I saw myself as a fiction writer and of course, ridiculously successful.

I have tried the publishing game for books and racked up a few rejection letters, which thanks to Stephen King’s book On Writing I was quite proud of. I tried to do the freelance writing thing but quickly realized that while I might make a living at it-writing about topics I wasn’t interested in was still just a job. I even forayed into self-publishing and published a chapbook of poems coupled with a book launch at one of my friend’s businesses. A pretty amazing night I might add and an accomplishment I still feel proud of.

I do have several rough drafts of fiction books that I am working on-proof that I haven’t given up on the published fiction author dream. And if I am being honest-I hope I never do.

And now, for the news. (Fun fact-at one brief time in my life I majored in journalism)

Last week I was visiting a webpage and felt myself being called to check out their submission guidelines. Turns out that they were requesting submissions about a topic very near and dear to my heart and before I knew it I was asking for some help from upon to come up with a submission to send in.

And I did.

And guess what? I'm going to be published!!!!!

It’s been such a surreal experience. I have never doubted that writing was my purpose or that it would be part of the work I put out into the world so when it happened it was almost not surprising and yet-completely surprising if that makes sense? The best part is I am going to writing about Art Journaling so it is combination of both my artist and writer sides. I will also be taking photos to go along with article so my inner amateur photographer self won’t be left out either.

All the details will be coming soon-for now I have my very first actual deadline!!! I started the article today and I am hoping to have a first draft done by the end of the week and maybe even get some art done to go along with the article. I’ll be sure to share with you all here when my first draft is done.

So that is my exciting blog news just for my blog readers and since that’s you-thank you! Thank you for loving blogs like I do and taking time to come here and read and be a part of this really exciting news. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

Much love!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Video: Making a Word of the Year Art Journal

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I am sitting cozy under a blanket watching one of my favorite movies of late, “Jungle Cruise.”  I absolutely love Emily Blunt and how she portrays such a confident woman in Lilly. This is the second time I am watching this when struggling with feelings of anxiety and there is something about this movie that just makes me feel cozy and calm.

That and writing to you.

I hope your year is off to a wonderful start and that you are moving at exactly the right pace for you.

I had planned to get more work done last week but it looks like this week will be the start for my new creative schedule.  I am excited to share more creative inspiration with you and on a bit more of a regular schedule.

I am kicking off with the Making an Art Journal for our Word of the Year video I promised in last week’s video. If you would like to watch me make a colorful, textured art journal then you may enjoy the video below.


I am committing this year to a regular check-in with my word of the year. I created enough pages in the journal to do a double page spread each week but I have also created the grace inside the journal that if I don’t check in as often as I would like-that’s alright too.

Our journals are meant to be places where we can show up as we are when we need. I am not looking at this as a”have-to” item but rather a “get-to.” Something that deeply nourishes me and the dreams I have for 2023.

And they are some big ones!

I would love for you to join me. Whatever you are feeling for this year. Whatever you are hoping to experience or achieve this year I would love for you to join me. You can subscribe to my weekly newsletter-where I will share all the latest videos and content by clicking the link here. I cannot wait to hear what some of your big dreams are for this year. Please share them in the comments below.

If you would like to purchase my Word of the Year Workbook you click here to go to my shop.

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Happy New Year 2023: My word of the year & art journaling

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Happy New Year!

I hope that the start of this year and the close of last has you doing just want you like to be doing.

Life makes it so easy to get caught up in things doesn’t it? Especially the things we don’t really care much for. I personally don’t like making resolutions or thinking that a simple tick of the clock hand means I’m going to be someone new-some idyllic version of myself.

Instead I like to think about intention.
”How do I want to feel?”
”How do I want to be?”

I like to move from one year to the next thinking about the things that have been working, the things that aren’t and making some gentle plans or rather, containers for the intentions I am setting for the year ahead.

Maybe that’s just a lot of words for resolutions but the energy of it is quite different I assure you! *smile*

Each year I choose a word for my year and this year I am also making an art journal to use just for that word.

I started by creating a workbook to help me choose my word (you can pick up your own digital copy in my shop here if you like) and I really wanted to make an effort to work with the energy of my word throughout the year and specifically to make time to work in my art journal.

I also thought it would be fun to make it a video series and share it with you.

If it sounds like fun you can follow along by choosing your own journal (or making one-I’ll have a video uploaded on January 7th where we will make a junky, brightly colored, textured journal together) and deciding on your word for 2023. I created a little video that goes into more detail about the year long series and you can watch it at the end of this blog post as well as on Dilettante TV.

In 2023 I really want to embody my creativity and to move forward with faith. That is why I chose “Faith Filled” as my 2023 word of the year. My husband asked why not “faithful” and I said that I wanted to be filled with faith and that really feels different to me.

I want to be filled with faith that I am here for a purpose.
I want to be filled with faith that I am being guided through all aspects of my life.
I want to be filled with faith that I am able to live the life I know I am being called to live.

It feels like a nice fit.

Do you choose a word? I would love to know and if you feel like sharing please comment below.

This time of year can be so many different things but it is my sincere wish for you that you are able to move through time in the way that feels truest for you. That the world that so easily distracts can be still enough for you to find your North and take the steps to living your fullest and most creative life.

Wishing you a beautiful 2023!

Much love,

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

Music by Julia Pauletti – Wild Ride – https://thmatc.co/?l=A4C2DBFE

Creating a Life You Love (That Loves You Back): And a Digital Detox

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I have been busy with the holiday season. Wrapping, making, wrapping. The studio is in chaos and this week, if I am honest, I am feeling a bit bah humbug.

I have decided to let some of my plans go. I had wanted to make lots of handmade gifts like I did last year but was quickly feeling overwhelmed and stressed as the days ticked by.  I reminded myself that while I love making the holidays special for the people I care about-it’s also my holiday and I need to give myself space to enjoy this time as well. To focus on what matters. To have the reflective time that is so important to me and mostly, to feel cozy and joyful.

I have been extremely intentional in creating a life that is not busy. I don’t want to be forever running to and fro or with an endlessly long to-do list. I prefer to have space in my days to allow for inspiration and the unexpected opportunity to arise. I have shared here on the blog before that I sometimes struggle with finding the balance between living consciously, leaving space for inspiration and at the same time moving forward with the projects that are important to me.

I have managed to launch my Etsy shop last month. I am still filling it but launching it felt like a big deal. I wanted to make the Digital Holiday & Christmas Card designs I had worked on available in time for the holidays. There are so many more ideas I have and I doubt they will all be done in time for the holidays and that’s ok. I could feel myself going from building a business I love to feeling stressed by all the things I thought I had to be doing.

Is it possible to create a thriving business that you love (creative or otherwise) without feeling stressful?  Can you earn the income you seek without having to work long hours and spending all your time and focus on aspects that do not fill your soul?

I believe you can.

I believe we are meant to do work we love and to receive the financial income that supports us. I don’t believe the way things have been done in the past are the way things are meant to be done and I believe there is a shift coming where we can enjoy what we do and be rewarded for it. I believe the world is thirsty for people who are living their authentic life and sharing that life without having to compromise on what is most valuable.

I am still working this all out but I have been thinking a lot about the digital detox I mentioned in the last podcast. I think that I am going to focus the month of January on the work I want to create in the way I want to create it. To let go of all the wonderful things I have seen my fellow artists creating and to instead focus on what it is I want to create and share. To really delve into who I am as an artist without thinking about who I should be to make a living as a an artist.

I will be sharing here with you of course as I go through this journey. I am going to spend the rest of December thinking about what this will look like and I will be giving you an update to let you know what you can expect here.

If you like, you can subscribe to my newsletter here and you will receive all the updates. Anything I update whether it’s a blog post, video or podcast goes out in the weekly newsletter. I really do keep it weekly (or less) so as not to bombard your inbox. If you would like to know about my digital greeting card and wall art shop you can sign up for that newsletter here.

So that’s all for today. I hope you are finding joy in the holiday season. Please comment below-I would love to hear your thoughts about what you are doing to take care of yourself this holiday season and also your thoughts on creating a life you love that loves you back.

Wishing you a beautiful week!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Doing What I Shouldn’t

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I am doing what I shouldn’t be doing.

I am spending my time doing things that I love. I am making things that excite me instead of the things I should be making.

I’m ignoring the to-do list in favor of the bucket list.

I’m not working on being what I think I should be and focusing much more on what I know I am.

I’m being creative, I dreaming big and I am making things that cause me to giggle like I’m 5 and squeal with excitement.

I’m breaking away from schedules in favor of authentic sharing and collaboration.

I’m not hustling, bossing, fixing or wearing a crown in favor of being my unique self instead.

It felt wrong at first. Like I should be doing my homework before I go play outside.

Why did I believe I had to do that now?

I didn’t do it then.

I was happy then.

I was free then.

Here’s to making a mess and leaving it.

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Creative Input Detox: An Idea Has Started

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I am inundated with thoughts.

It’s as if the voices of all I have been reading, watching and learning are in my head chattering away about everything. They have lots of opinions. I have conjured up lots of pretend scenarios that go with them and as a result they offer a never ending, running commentary on all I do (or don’t do) throughout the day.

I think it’s time for another detox.

I do not mean a detox of the physical variety such as a juice cleanse but rather a detox of consumption.
I have done this before, back when I was first re-starting my blog and I found it to be very liberating.

Over the past few weeks I have been losing my focus. I am easily distracted with new ideas and as a result I am starting and stopping a lot. Normally I love having lots of creative ideas but when they interfere with the goals I have and result in my bouncing around from one thing to the next, I think it’s time to simplify.

To offer some examples, over the past week or so I have come up with lots of things I want to create. Paths I want to go down and while they are fun prospects I haven’t completed any of the projects I already started. Instead of seeing through my “in progress” works, I am being distracted by the next shiny thing.

I do embrace change and I can easily move on from projects that are no longer working. This is different though. I am so flooded with the “new and shiny” I almost can’t remember what I was working on. It’s similar to walking into a room with the intention of dusting and instead you end up sorting clothing-half way though leaving it still spread all over the floor because you went downstairs for garbage bags and are now cleaning the garbage can but you left that outside because the leaves needed raking….

You get the idea.

As a creative the new ideas are exciting and tempting. Sometimes, they point out what we want to add to our existing projects or what we need to let go of. Other times they do nothing more than keep us from completing anything.

So I am planning a detox and here is what I mean.

Last time I think I called it “No input.” Not a very catchy title but I was trying to share the essence of what I was going through. Basically for the designated time I didn’t read anything (no books, blog posts, newsletters, emails etc.). I didn’t listen to anything so no audiobooks or podcasts. I didn’t watch anything-no TV, videos etc.

I think I still listened to music and I went online for the purposes of paying bills and such but that was pretty much it. I focused instead on output. I used the time I would have spent consuming more information to sharing what it was I already had. Instead of learning a new mixed media technique I played around with the ones I already know.

Instead of reading a new book I worked on writing my own.

Instead of reading blog posts, I worked on writing my own.

Instead of listening to podcasts, I worked on making my own.

It was pretty wonderful.

Once in a while I allowed myself a video here and there when I just really wasn’t into doing anything and I think that’s grace. It’s also the difference between resistance and self-care so I was very aware of every time I did this.

I love having lots of projects but I also want to start finishing some. I want to feel I am gaining traction on my creative business and I want to start seeing some tangible results. So I think a bit of a detox is in order.

I haven’t worked out the when and the how and the how long. Part of me thought it might be good to have set days where I don’t have any input and then other days where I can. I think it might support me better to have some disconnected time through out the week rather than just not having any for a month and going back.

So maybe that looks something like only reading, watching and listening 3 days a week and the other days I focus on creating. I do like this idea because it becomes a regular practice of being intentional with each day rather than just pushing through a month of no content only to return right back to where I was.

Like giving up all snack foods for a month versus limiting what you eat through out the week.

What about you? Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes with ideas? When you sit down for your creative time do you not know where to start? I would love to hear any ideas you have. It might be a fun journey to take together.

I’ll be talking more about this in this week’s podcast and I will let you know next week what I’ve decided.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante