It's Sunday night, officially almost Monday morning, out here on the West coast and I'm moving along in my urban flow. Most people have turned in. The city is quiet and the rain has set in.  The streets are mirrors to the city lights that now shimmer and paint the streets outside. I'm sitting at a local pub trying to get inspired by the energy of the music and "lives happening" around me, plugged into wifi and trying to find some words and images to share on my Monday blog. Nothing is coming to me. NOTHING... I stop for a minute and take in the scene around me.  A dark downtown Seattle looms outside the windows. Area businesses are mostly closed. The ever-present construction work is on a brief hiatus until tomorrow morning when the construction sites become like bee hives again. Right now, the only remnants in view are the orange traffic cones lining the streets and sidewalks. They are the new icon of the changes happening in this city. They have become the omnipresent accessory that adorns the city like jewels.
Doodle Messages ~ Creative Meditation
It's been some time since I shared my Doodles on my blog. I'll admit I fell out of my regular Doodle habit. I still Doodled, but I stopped Doodling every day. Sometimes life just takes twists and turns and things change. I've come to realize that for me, the Doodle isn't a "quick draw" on a piece of paper. For me, Doodling is a slow down, go within, get quiet, melt into color and touch, and begin to listen to the thoughts and messages that come through in my head activity.
Hey, wait...that sounds kinda familiar doesn't it? Â
Quiet... Slow down... Go within... Listen...MEDITATION anyone?
Yep, for me Doodling is meditation, creative meditation, and if it doesn't happen for at 30 minutes I don't feel like I get the true value from it. I need at least that long to get where I want to go physically and mentally. Based on this new knowledge, I'm working on getting back into the Doodle groove and indulging when I know I have the time, or need to MAKE the time given the energy in my body, to do it in a way that is fulfilling for me.
I talked about my love of textiles in the Textiles, Tulips post a few weeks ago. If you know me beyond that post you know that I LOVE design and interiors and have since childhood. My poor mother and my incessant requests to go to the local "home store" of choice on any given week (or was it day, mom?) to buy a new pillow, bed ruffle, or room decor color-change-accessory of the moment. I haven't changed much and still get inspired by home accessories and could buy something new daily if I didn't moderate myself. So the opportunity to have MY art in a major home decor store? WHOA! WOW! YES, PLEASE!! A home decor store where, by the way, I love to go on days that I'm feeling a little flat and need some design or color energy infusion, none the less...Pottery Barn!! I'm completely excited about the Minted.com + Pottery Barn Kids Pottery Barn Teen challenge and a chance to get some of my fun and colorful art sold in stores and inspiring young people to dream, color, and GET creative. Here's how you can help me:
Vote for melissaAnne COLORS art in the Minted.com + Pottery Barn Kids & PB Teen Challenge to discover new wall art for kids and teens!
The Art of Changing Perspective A week ago I was basking in an uncharacteristically sunny February day and took a last minute adventure out to Port Townsend for a few days because it's one of my favorite places to spend time
Think Color Many of you are facing a cold and snowy forecast over the next few days. I figured you could use a little color through the storm. Dreaming In Pastels A Water Painting Collection abstract from Amsterdam to brighten your day and soften