Monday, April 27, 2009 So, I had an unfortunate sitation with my good camera last week and am left with my iPhone as my primary photographing device. Still, it was a lot of fun to try to go through my artist date with an inspired eye.
Monday, April 27, 2009 
First I would like to welcome Lisa & Vanessa! If you have joined us and I haven't mentioned you please let us know that you're in. And anyone that hasn't introduced themselves yet - we'd love to hear a little bit about you -
So, I had a MUCH better week this week. Morning pages, check. Artist Date, check. I even over-achieved and did most of my tasks (is that what they're even called?) And it was all pretty enjoyable, except the morning pages. I really thought I would love these as I'm a journaler anyway, but expectations are hard for me and I find myself dreading them a bit. Still, I can tell that my perspective has started to shift and I am beginning to look at things differently these past days. I even considered cleaning the house as my artist date (that didn't win) just to get to do it alone in my house and with fresh eyes. Instead I went to a warehouse of salvage building materials and an art museum. I'm feeling excited about this coming week.
Oh, and this week I saw the illustration above & heard the lyrics below and they both reminded of me of this process.
These lyrics are from Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield:
How did your week go?
{illustration via gaping void}
Monday, April 20, 2009 
So this first week wasn't so great for me. First off, it was terrible timing to start this book just as my whole family was coming in town. It has been a week of crazy business. Then I had some internet issues, not a great excuse, seeing as this is a book after all, but it threw me off kilter some more and oh, my toe hurts.
You get what I'm saying. It didn't go well. I had a couple strong days of morning pages and then everything went to pot. Ummm...I'm not even sure where I put my book. Yeah, I can't find my book - so what?
And I really dislike starting things off poorly. Typically, it makes me want to throw in the towel and "start fresh" later on down the road. Not this time. Thanks to you all, my marvelous comrades, I am going to persevere. I am shaking off the trials of this week past and starting fresh today (as soon as I find my book). I am simply going to try to do better this week. That's all I can do, right?
And Miss Aimee- how I wanted to respond to you in the midst of my computer trials! Here's was my waiting response " Me too! Me too! Don't give up! We'll figure this out!"
So far as getting the reading in, here's what has been working best for me - (when something is working for me). I 've been taking my kids in the yard or to the park to play and I get some reading in while they are playing. Then I stick the book by the potty (TMI?) throughout the day and by the bathtub at night and get a little reading in then.
How have the rest of you been fitting you're reading in? Was it a good week or hard week for the rest of you?
(today we are starting week two).
{image by wiseacre photo}
Monday, April 13, 2009 
Hi all!
Here's who we have right now, let me know if you are missing from the list...
Emily (me)
Julie
Tawny
Mindi
Joy
Leslie B.
Viva B.
gbilbrey
How did it go for everyone this week? So, I'm not sure that this a good thing, but I am feeling really excited about both the morning pages & the artist date. I can definitely see how these tools could be huge for me. I typically like to start with lower expectations and then be pleasantly surprised later, but I can't help it! I'm just really excited. I like practicals, not all pi-in-the-sky mumbo jumbo. And these are some pretty great practicals, in my opinion.
The time factor is my greatest concern right now. With two little ones it's so hard to imagine squeezing this all in. Still, I believe that if I could - I may help me be a better wife & mother in return.
I was also really moved by two quotes, both from Picasso, strangely enough.
Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. Pablo Picasso.
Though I don't paint (yet?) I love the idea that our medium in really a journal to what is going on in the interior. Rather then "coming up with some idea" to work on, working from our present experience.
Here's the second:
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Pablo Picasso
This week I want to try to recover some of that artist child and cultivate what is already ther in my own children. Ok, that's me. Now you're turn -
(oh, and today we are starting week 1: recovering a sense of safety. You can still hop in and join us - find out more here.)
{photograph by LittleImage}
Monday, April 6, 2009 
Hi all! Are you ready to get started?
With a bit of trepidation I'm gonna say - "I am."
I just realized that prior to the actual "week one" there are three sections: introduction, Spiritual Electricity (the basic principles), and basic tools. In an effort to not overwhelm anyone this first week and allow people that are interested but haven't gotten their book yet - let's read through these first three sections this week. Then we can officially start "week one" next week. Was that confusing?
I have started reading through these first sections and a lot of it discusses the idea that the Great Creator is the one that enables us to create. Julia Cameron (the author) goes on to say how this terminology can be a hang up for some people. If you are a Christian or Jewish or Muslim it may seem too New Age-y. If you are involved in something more New Age, it may seem too Christian, etc. I hope we don't get too distracted by this point. As individuals we know where we stand and my hope (and Julia's) is that the wording not be a hindrance. That we can move forward from our own specific place of faith.
Ok - I thought it may be nice to take this chance to introduce ourselves. Right now these are the names of everyone that has shown interest in joining in this journey. If I missed your name or you've gotten scare off already, just let me know:
Emily (me)
Julie
Tawny
Mindi
Joy
Leslie B.
Viva B.
gbilbrey
& last but certainly not least, Paula of two ellie.
Anyone else out there, you are still welcome to hop in! (You can read more about it here.)
So if you are in and are willing, please leave a comment sharing a bit about yourself. That way when people share about their journey in the future, we have a sense of who is talking.
I'll start.
I'm Emily. I'm 31 years old, married to Sean and mom to Eva (4.5) and Oliver, (3 this month). We are in the midst of our first adoption. From Thailand. The closest thing that I have to an artistic skill is that I was a creative writing major in college. Oh, and for me, The Great Creator is God as seen in the Bible. I am at the very start of a journey in learning how to do all things domestic and I would also love to learn how to bring creativity into my everyday.
Okay - you're turn.
{image by an untrained eye}