Creating postcards to share with other Art Therapists

I signed up to participate in a postcard exchange via Art Therapy without Borders organization - I was excited to have a possibility to connect with other art therapists in the U.S. and other countries, it's exciting to hear what others are manifesting in their work.

After some time musing over what to create, I found myself this weekend cutting out hearts from Valentines day advertisements in the newspaper (thinking I would make valentines day cards)...as I continued cutting and arranging the hearts, I noticed that the space left behind was also cool, so I used that for cards as well... below you can see the process, and the slide show on the right has the individual cards and the entire collection as a collage. enjoy

Self Reminder

inspiration

One more reason I love Oakland

This is a nice little in the paper about the changing nature of Oakland - there is a positive influence art/creativity can provide to a community.  I love that I live here and can participate!
check it out below (wishing I had a photo to go with it)
Oaklands journey from seedy to sizzling

going back to my roots

Years ago I left my job as a consumer educator to become a jeweler.  It was an incredible challenge and I'm so glad that I had that experience. Even though I moved on, I never stopped creating.  Now I'm again offering my jewelry creations, this time on Etsy.  take a look!   (this is an example of a free form crocheted necklace)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DorieMeister

Befriending your emotions through art

Different kind of ending and beginning

 

I am delighted to share that I just sold this birdcage necklace.  After having it with me for a while, It feels so good to imagine this piece going to a new home. 


After some time polishing and examining it, I decided it should spend some time with Green Tara  energizing before I ship it out in the morning.


I also love that this person found me through a Gallery display of my artwork and jewelry designs on International Expressive Arts Therapy Association website - they traveled through my own website and made a connection - now this necklace is their own valentines day appreciation. 

Mentors

Lynne Merchant - wire artist  One of the most creative woman I know.  She taught me to bend wire into jewelry, wrapping rocks and beach glass - She also inspired me to be more creative with my designs - to feel that creativity is a natural part of life.

I'm delighted to find her still making her beautiful works in San Diego

I feel a lot of gratitude for what I've learned from her

not to mention the wire work and genius of Alexander Calder
thanks

Happy New Year!

Hiking in the Marin Headlands today I noticed how a line of waves kept appearing and disappearing along the horizon.


Reminds me of the Vedic teachings (as I interpret it) - each wave may appear separate than the ocean, yet it simply consists of water, same as the rest of the ocean.   


Just like each of us are unique yet stem from the same source of vital creativity.


I find this reassuring

2009 Summary

Spent some time remembering 2009, taking account of who and what people and activities touched me in an important way seeped in discovery, humility, love, abundance, gratitude and fallibility.  2009 was filled with self discovery expression, and courage uncovering compassion and trust.  all so important and ordinary.  In 2008 I called 2009 the year of self love, it was worth paying attention to.

Now I'm feeling into 2010 - what will be my theme? I feel ready for a different kind of exploration, more outward focused - curious exploration within a community.

we'll see what that might be - already there's a catch phrase - "walk my talk" I think I'll be sharing more of my exploration process.

The power of knowing our bodies

read this article about a man with Cerebral Palsy and how he's learned to dance through a very detailed and specific exploration of his body, how his muscles and bones work together.  then watch the video - I found it beautiful and compelling.
Go to the Article

Thanksgiving

I was musing with friends over lunch how fun it was as a kid to make turkey drawings by tracing my hand.  So I thought I'd give it a try - how fun!


Thanksgiving Gratitude

Rules for creativity?

I was introduced to Sister Mary Cortia just this week.  She ran the Art department at Immaculate Heart College until 1968 when she left the order.  Here's her list of "rules" for art class

I personally like rule number 8 - don't try to create and analyze at the same time!

learn more about her here:

http://www.corita.org/coritabio/coritabio.html

Everyday Creativity

I don't usually read Psychology Today - but the current issue caught my eye - everyday creativity...I enjoyed this article which widens the understanding of what is considered creative...including the everyday acts of problem solving. enjoy
everyday creativity

how much love do you let in?

Right now, let yourself feel into this....How much love are you letting in? in this moment, feel inside.....

Is it this much?

or is it more like this much?
Maybe it's somewhere in between...like this..


No right or wrong, just interesting to find out I think...

(leaf courtesy of Lake Merrit)

what do you see?

Growing up, my family went to church pretty much every Sunday, from the time I was born until around 15. To entertain myself I used to stare at the wood grain in the roof beams and paneling.

After a few moments of soft gazing, the patterns in the wood transformed into faces and bodies of creatures. looking at the world this way was a great way to pass time when I couldn't do much else.

Since then I find myself looking at the patterns around me. Check out the sidewalk cracks on the slide show to the left, what do you see?

secret lives of bees

here's another creative look at a bee's life

How things work ...naturally

I can't stop watching these digital shorts on the Sundance chanel - Directed by Isabella Rossaellini called Green Porno. She so cleverly educates us on the sex lives of creatures - it's worth a look!

Eyes Wide Open

"Which do you prefer? the dream or the truth?" I felt like I was living out the scene from "The Matrix" as a very wise man asked me this question. hmm, what if the truth is different from my dream? It felt like a tough choice

I have to admit it's a scary to let go of my dreams - even with the knowledge of how difficult it is when I ignore the truth while grasping at my idea of what "should" be, or what I want it to be ("it" can be replaced with work, family, lover, friend, health care, state of the environment)

Is the loss of the dream the lost of naïveté? Can truth be the grounding I long for?

Taking my time

I'm reading the book "Salt" (well, I've been reading it) for about a year now I keep reading the first two chapters over again (well, twice now).

This is not the first time it's taken me a while to get through a book, the last was "Peter the Great" by Richard Massie. It was worth worth the recommendation and encouragement to make it through.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_K._Massie

Now there's this Salt book and as I realized today, one of the reasons it takes me a while is that there are so many interesting tidbits of information in each chapter. I read Chapter Two in the bath today, "Fish, Fowl and Pharaohs". Now I have an increased understandings of the Egyptian way of life (in relation to food and the body).

For example, they believed that the onion "resembled the concentric circles of the universe". They thought that Isis taught them how to grow olives. They may have been the first to cure meat and fish with salt. (they needed to find ways to store food in case of drought). They left elaborate offerings in tombs for the deceased. They believed that the body was the "vessel connecting earthly life to the after life". so many aspects are interesting to me

I saw an offer for reduced tickets to see the King Tut exhibit at the de Young museum in San Francisco, I think I better go.

http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org/

I'm glad I'm taking my time with this one.