My First Blog

Hello....this is Dianne, almost 60 years old and this is my very first blog..I am a member of the Journey of Seven, which has been a great experience for me. They are great friends which have had a great influence in my life. Everyone should be so fortunate...thanks to all the other 6.. Dianne

Creativity Lost & Found

Peggie here.....I have been remiss in posting anything for the last few months.  My creativity took a vacation, as did the goals I had written for myself.  During this time I have been thinking and formulating a redesign of my goals, along with searching for my creative spark.  What is amazing in life is that when you think you need a boost to lift your spirits, along comes some good news.  This week I sold my second print of Motif Number One on Fine Art America and one of my fabric designs on Spoonflower was tagged as a "favorite" by a website visitor.  These two small "events" have boosted my spirits and re-ignited a spark, encouraged me to work towards a flame, and eventually towards a blazing bonfire!  Now I need a good shove to work on the new goals!

Accessory ideas with a 60's flare

My 60's flower fabric doesn't look so foolish after 
all when mocked up on an Umbrella, Tote and Wristlet. 
Although I do feel the urge to hum the Brady Brunch theme.


www.spoonflower.com/profiles/donnamarie

Back to the 60's!

This fabric I designed reminds me of childhood. I think I had a pair of shorts similar 
to this material when I was about 10. Come to think of it, that was the last time 
I ever wore shorts! No shorts for this body anymore, I'll sew up a tote bag or a cosmetic bag 
or better still, an eye glass case because the eye sight is blurry now or a small pouch to store our pills for sore knees, lower back aches, tummy attacks or whatever ailment that hits us after 50. Or maybe I'll revert back to childhood and make a pair of shorts. 
I think 10 yards should be enough. 


www.spoonflower.com/profiles/donnamarie

Invest In Your Dream

So, I've been training for this half-marathon for a couple of months. It is one of my original goals for 2012. The event is Sunday, May 27th, Memorial Day weekend. I got off my schedule a couple of times due to my unprecedented travel itinerary... but got back on track (no pun intended). I also made the dollar commitment. I signed up on-line for the race. That means if I back out now, I'm out $50 and that would not be a good thing. So, one way or the other, I will make the 13.1 mile journey around Hyannis and cross the finish line.  I have $50 in addition to my self-confidence on the line!

Sometimes this is the route we need to take, put some hard-earned money behind our goals. This is not an easy concept. Money is tight, there are always other more pressing concerns. And that is why we need to step back and look at our lives. If we are totally committed to investing ourselves in our goals, if what we are doing is truly our life's dream, then we have a responsibility to put some force behind it. If we don't, we are cheating ourselves. Our creativity will give us power but we still need a vehicle to ride in...and that might mean spending a little more money than is comfortable. I just purchased some software to help me in post-processing images. I think I do okay with composition, I kind of know how to adjust the settings but there are many great photographers out there. If I want to compete with them, I need the tools of the trade...and, unfortunately, the days of film and darkrooms are about over. I kept putting off the purchase because it seemed wasteful...but the time has come for me take a big step forward. If I stumble, so be it, but now that I've invested a bit more into my dream, I may work a bit harder to make it happen.

Last night I watched "Two Broke Girls". They managed to work their way into a gala event where Martha Stewart was a guest because they wanted to 'stalk her' and talk her into tasting one of their cupcakes for a business they are starting up. When one of the girls said to her, "I'm sorry to be talking business at a social event." Martha said something to the effect, "When you are in business, there is no wrong time to talk shop." She then pulled 4 copies of her book out of her handbag! I don't recommend stalking any celebrities but if you need to push the envelope a little, you have my unauthoritative permission!!

"If you aren't living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!" Anonymous

Just Do It

I just got home from a photography workshop in Manhattan which was held at the Radio City Music Hall. I was a bit nervous about going as I'd never done anything like this before. However if I want to improve my photographic skills, I need to ante up and step outside the box. I also traveled to Manhattan alone, taking the bus down on Saturday morning and staying overnight so that I could be on time at the workshop on Sunday morning. This was a first time experience also. I'm happy to say all went well. The workshop was intimidating at first as many of the women in the group had taken workshops with this instructor before and were very comfortable "taking space". I hung back a bit but by the end of rhe workshop, I, too, was able to "claim my space" and speak up when someone got inside my frame. I first thought these women to be pushy, selfish, and rude, and a couple of them actually were. But then I realized that if I didn't speak up, I was giving them permission to be that way with me. Why would I give anyone that kind of control?  

I think that is one of the things women need to do more of, speak up and "claim your space". Being shy is cute when you're five...when you're fifty, it's a roadblock to full potential. Hanging back is no longer good enough. Women in the 50-ish age bracket spent most of their lives doing the bidding of others and being content to be support mechanisms. Many times we were considered 'self-centered' if we thought of ourselves or 'too independent' if we wanted to do it alone and our way. This type of thinking has to end. Peggie mentioned a great quote, "Proceed until apprehended." Three words which, when combined, tell me its okay to jump on a bus, stay alone in 'the big city', spend money to improve skills for a creative passion and tell some over-bearing semi-professional photographer to 'please move your tripod out of my space'.

So, just do it! Follow your heart, don't listen to the naysayers of the world, and your dreams will come along for the ride.

Susan

Congratulation Baby Cards

Congratulations on your new baby cards are off to the printer tomorrow (5-8-12) along with the two baby shower cards I designed earlier. Can't wait to get them back! 


Always listen to the experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done and why. Then do it.  
— Robert Heinlein