Sketchbook Sessions

This weekend I took sometime each day to delve into my sketchbook. I feel like it's been quite a while since I've done this, so I put some peramiters around what I was worked on. I wanted to make some look like stained glass windows. Or completely change my normal perspective/approach to sketching.

It felt so good to stretch my creative muscles. And to encourage my kids (and friends!) to join me. The kids played playdoh and painted during my sketchbook sessions. And it was beautiful.

What Remains: Creativity

As I was cleaning up last night,  tucking lovies into the arms of heavy-breathing, heavy eyed cherubs, scrubbing spots of the kitchen table and swooping up arm loads of trains, I noticed something-- our desks were all filled with projects, favorite things and in short, our personalities.

The creativty we've captured in our house this week:

On my drafting table, a little painting (on a tiny canvas,
from a beautiful friend-- the slipper is from her too!),
a journal from Kerry, a painting from Truman, art supplies and a little painted
stone that says 'do small things with great love.'

Isabel's desk, found leaves, purplicious book,
2008 Madame Alexander catalog for inspiration,
her fleece coat and paper dolls.

Truman keeps his desk much more sparce.
But he's so into the stamps on his chore chart!

What's projects is on your desk, are you doing any New Years creating?

I have a little project going...

365 paintings-- not nessisarly one a day but, I'm moving toward painting more. Ending my day with a 4" x 4" painting. Big enough to fufill my soul and communicate something. Small enough to finish in one sitting.

I only have pictures of the ones I've given away. Like this one.

New Resolve

I'm wondering why everything in my life begins with a good house scrubbing. But, it does.

I think I put my excuses to bed here yesterday and I went home thinking. I can do this. So I did. I threw open the windows and doors. I tied on my Grandma's apron. And I set about to cook dinner, do laundry, vacuum and dust. Scrub and wash.

We had a peaceful, simple family meal. And Isabel says, in her impromptu like fashion, "Let's do our 'Mostly I love about yous." which means we say what we love about each individual person in the house--  Lucy-dog included. And we had extra time to read library books and snuggle before bed.

I finished up all my tasks, post-bed time. 

And as the dishwasher hummed--  I sat down at the end of the night, listening to music across the kitchen table from Eric, I penned a few letters while he paid bills. A tiny date in the midst of the week.

I'm content. I just needed to realign myself, my home, my priorities.

I can't think of a better evening. Scrubbed house, gleaming heart? I think so.



*This is a little painting I made for a friend, remind me to tell you about my project!