The Routine of Distraction

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I have been a bit quiet lately.

Introspection is a very natural state for me. Sitting, pondering, pen in hand, notebook, a cup of tea, something sweet. That is a state of being I can exist in quite possibly forever.

During moments of quiet I am communing with something larger than myself. Sometimes praying, sometimes listening, most times just talking, everything makes sense in these moments. It often feels as if I am gifted a set of coordinates and my path is made clear.

Then I step out of contemplation and into the world of doing and things get muddy. Suddenly there is opposition, opinions, obstacles. I find myself shrinking, changing, complying-becoming ever too aware of other people and their role in what I am creating and doing.

I envy people who seem to be undeterred. The people who can seemingly march through life unaffected by anything as they continue on their set course undeterred.
I wonder if it’s as easy for them as it seems. So few things are. I wonder if they worked hard to be this way or if it was part of their identity from birth.

I am often detoured off my set path.
I change course because of an obstacle rather than charging over, through or removing what is blocking my way.
I prefer to journey two-days off course rather than deal with an obstacle-especially if that obstacle appears in the form of another person.

Sometimes this is a lovely way to be. I can float through, discover scenery and places I hadn’t planned and still land at my destination point.

Lately however it has felt that the more detours I take, the more obstacles that show up. I fatigue easily when challenged and it usually leads to my wanting to be at a table in a quiet kitchen with a cup of tea, a journal, a pen and my quiet introspection. The tangible of this world never really lures me the same as the deeper meanings do.

And recently I have been wanting to change this just a bit.

I am tired of forever detouring.
I am tired of letting my plans slide.

During my quiet time this week I realized that being flexible, enjoying a detour are beautiful gifts. It is not something I need to change. Rather I need to add a little discipline.

I need to train my mind to focus on what is important. To block out distractions and all the noise of a world that would forever have me bouncing around from one detour to another all the while stuck in traffic.

It is my easily distracted mind that needs tending.
My passions, my purpose that need my focus.
So I have retreated to strengthen myself.
To make sure that the work I am doing is what I am meaning to do and not just part of the routine of distraction.

I desire real connection with others.
I desire joy, peace, art-making and a thriving creative business that supports all of this.

So I am going back to what I love-writing and making art.
I am pulling away from YouTube (again) since it really doesn’t bring me joy.
I am making my art, finding my style and focusing on doing my thing and sharing it in a way that also feels like me.

I wonder what detours are showing up in your own life.
I would love to hear, please feel free to reply to this email so we can support each other.

In the meantime I am going to keep sharing my podcasts, blog posts, Letters to Creatives and Dilettante TV (and planning to add some more vlog style videos). And soon, I hope to be sharing some more of my art with you.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

You can also follow me on Substack here.

Video: Playing with Watercolors-Create with Me!

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You can watch the video by scrolling to the bottom of the blog post.

Today I wanted to play with my watercolors.

I thought it would be fun to create some images on smaller sheets of paper but really just play with the supplies and see what came about.

Over the weekend I was sketching outside by my marigolds. I was inspired by Anne Butera’s sketchbook class where she showed a snippet of her creating in her garden. The whole family was outside playing over the weekend so I set up a picnic style blanket and plopped on the ground beside my marigolds (dogs clamoring for snuggles).

Initially I started out swatching colors while thinking about the marigolds. Then I tried to create some similar to how I had done in my sketchbook. I learned quickly that my tendency to overwork things lead to more of a circle rather than a flower shape.

Still, I had fun. I was a little bummed that the marigolds lost their shape so I popped over to my favorite color while thinking for flowers. Not any flower in particular I just held the idea in my head and moved my brush around to see what happened.

I used this same technique for some lavender and purple shapes as well.

Lastly I decided to swatch some fall colors and then I made some marks while thinking about leaves-and stopping myself before I could overwork them too much!

Then it seemed fitting to try a pile of fallen leaves. It wasn’t looking like what I imagined but when I let go and just started playing again the colors started to blend and I was very happy with my abstract pile of fallen leaves.

And the tree they fell off of.

I hope you will give your favorite media a try. Perhaps without trying to create anything you just let your media and movements dance and see what they create.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Making Our Popcorn Journals: No Sew/No Special Tools

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Happy Monday!

As you read that we are officially back to home school. Right now I am probably picking up pencils off the floor and trying to keep my now 4 year-old occupied without going through all the special homeschool items I purchased for this purpose. With any luck I was able to get some nice photos of the first day and the kids are excited about some new surprise goodies that the moaning and groaning is at a minimum.

The Michele who writes this is full of hope 🙂

If you remember a few weeks back I shared the idea of a “popcorn journal.” (If not you can read and watch the video here).

The idea was that on those nights when we want to crash on the couch and binge watch our favorite show that we could make a tiny bit of art in the 2 minutes it takes to pop our popcorn.

At the time I had planned to use an actual popcorn box for this purpose but I seemed to misplace it when it came to make the video.

I also realized that I had brought all my book binding tools back home to the Creative Corner and had very limited items here at the studio.

My first instinct was to just do it another time but I had no idea what to film for today. So I took a moment and was guided to just make what I could make with what I had on hand.

Years ago I used to make some “Use What You’ve Got” videos on my YT channel. As much as I love an art supply and I love it even more when creators share links to what they are using I really want to be mindful of what I share. I never want anyone to think you need a specific tool or a specific paint color to create. I think it’s so important to encourage everyone to create where they are at with what they have.

And that’s just what I did in this video.

The journal is no sew, uses a box from the recycling bin and printer paper to construct the cover. You just need some PVA glue or Mod Podge, printer paper and then whatever you want to create with to decorate the cover.

It’s that easy.

You can add a little reinforcement with some painters tape or masking tape but it’s definitely not necessary. You could do the same with some paper bag, magazine pages or more printer paper. You could even leave it as is.

As I was making (and figuring out) this journal what really stood out what how much fun I was having making it. I wasn’t worried about it looking perfect but rather I was just enjoying making a journal.

This isn’t the best way to make an art journal. It’s not going to give you a polished look but it will be an expression of your creativity. It will give you some time with your materials to have fun. I also think that when the journal isn’t picture perfect and pristine, it’s easier to just dig in and start putting some color on the pages. It doesn’t feel so precious this way.

I really hope you have fun and even make yourself a “popcorn journal.” If you do please comment below or on the video I would love to hear!

I am thinking that my journal is going to hold pages for the zines that are bouncing around in my head. I have really wanted to make a zine for a long time now and I just seem to get blocked each time. I am hoping this journal will spark the creative spirit and get me going.

Are you ready to make your journal? You can watch the video below.

I also plan to share some quick videos of my 2 minute art making both here on the blog and my YT channel so you can do the whole subscribe to the newsletter channel thing if you want. Or just stop in and look around from time to time.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Weekly Round-Up for the First Week of September

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The first full week of September is behind us-how was yours?

Mine was nice and I feel I am settling into a nice, flexible rhythm. If you are wondering what I was up to this week you can see all that’s been going on below:

New Video: Creating Without a Plan (aka my favorite way to create)
I wasn’t sure what to create so I picked a journal I hadn’t worked in for a while and one of my most fun materials-Tempura Paint Sticks. The paper is black and it was fun to see how the paint sticks showed up. Initially I was just putting color on the paper and deciding to try and blend it a bit. From there a whole magical scene emerged.  (You can keep reading on the blog here)

September Book Club Update
Here is an update of what I read and didn’t read this month.

The Week in Flowers
This week I have a different kind of flower to share with you. The good news is it won’t wilt!

This Week’s Podcast
In this week’s podcast I am chatting about digital versus physical creativity and sharing my current projects.

So that is what has been going on with me. I would love to hear what you have been up to. Feel free to comment below this post or on any of the posts or podcast listed above. I would love to hear from you!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

The Week in Flowers: First Week of September

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It has been a rainy week here in the North East. I am not at all complaining as the garden needed a good watering. I haven’t spent much time in my garden really and never got the second round of flowers planted at the end of August like I wanted. Still, the flowers are forever giving and I have some asters and zinnias that are still filling the space with color.

Since there wasn’t much to photograph I thought I would try for something a bit different this week and share some painted flowers.

I am working on painting watercolor flowers at the moment. I really want to combine watercolor images with words, quotes and the like and I thought it was a good idea to start practicing.

So, as I love to do, I found a little course on painting watercolors over on Skillshare. (Not at all sponsored but I am sharing an affiliate link that, if you use and make a qualifying purchase I can earn a free month of Skillshare-so that’s fun!)

I’m still working on the roses. Couldn’t quite get the technique down but I’m going to keep trying!

If you are interested in the exact class I am taking you can find that here. The teacher is really clear and it’s a quick and fun class that will have you painting some watercolor flowers in no time. I also love that she shares inexpensive materials as well. While it’s nice to have the fancy stuff I hate to see someone not painting because they can’t afford the goodies. In fact the images I am sharing with you were painted with an $8 set I found on Amazon-and that I really love!

So I hope you enjoyed this little spin on The Week in Flowers. I am not sure where this will go as the weather gets colder but I refuse to end Summer until it is official and then, I will squeal with delight as I welcome in Fall!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Book Club September 2022

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Happy September!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these I receive a small commission but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

September? Really? When did that happen? I know it’s always said that “time flies” but sometimes I really cannot comprehend how quickly a year goes by.

Have you been reading a lot? I feel pretty good about what I finished this month and just the fact that I consciously made more time to read. Writing these posts keeps it in the forefront of my mind and I seem to make more time to read with them so I hope you enjoy them as well 🙂

I think I am going to leave last month’s list alone and just share with you the books I actually finished. If you are interested in the books on my self that I am in the process of reading you can visit my August Book Club post here.

Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady: I just cannot say enough about this book. It offers me such comfort and I feel like I am reading a letter from a dear friend. If you like metaphysics/spirituality with a Christian focus you might enjoy this book as well. I purchased the collection of her works that include this book and I am currently reading the second book as part of my daily devotional time.

Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: Another book that just made me feel positive and happy while I read it. This book focuses on hiring the angels to assist you as you go about your day. It’s a practice that I have implemented in my daily devotional time and it really strengthens my sense of connection to the Divine.

The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily by Susan Wittig Albert: I love this series so much and I really enjoyed this story line. If you like some cozy mysteries and historical fiction you might just like this series.

The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker: The most recent book in this series I really enjoyed this one as well. I was able to get it on loan from my library which was nice. Sadly I don’t have another one to read as of yet-hopefully the author will be writing another one 🙂

There were 3 children’s books I had borrowed from the library last month but I ended up returning them. I hadn’t started them and to be honest I wasn’t into reading them at the time so I decided to return them and maybe try them again at another time. They might be fun to bring into our homeschool when it starts up next week.

So that is my Book Club update. I hope your September is off to a great start! What are you reading? Please comment below and let me know-I am always looking for new suggestions!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante