justBeConnected

Hello and Happy New Year to All!

Hello and Happy New Year to All! I am your guest hostess for the coming week here at Just Be Connected and I promised Melba I would do a good job for her, so here I am.

My name is Carol Eldridge. I am a artist.......a designer, a Mother to 3 girls and a Nana to 9 little munchkins. I draw and paint and do product development for major manufacturers all over the USA and have been doing it for many years. My designs are licensed to companies and I am paid a royalty for each item that they sell with my copyrighted design on it. I now work out of my home studio, although for years had a large studio outside my home.

I started blogging this summer as a way to get connected with other creative individuals who also work alone. My platform is to basically blog about the creative life I lead...my artwork and design, my decorating and gardening and my travels.

I first heard about blogging a few years ago, but never realized the impact it might have on my life until I started to blog this past summer. What is so amazing to me is that the world is at your fingertips, quite literally and within a few seconds you can reach so many people with your thoughts and find someone in Norway, for example, who leads a similar life to yours, same interests, same passions....really fascinating.

I do have a part time assistant helping me in the summers and in the busy season, but I do think that being a designer requires a lot of alone time for thought and creative moments to come without distractions. That is where blogging and networking have become so appealing to so many of us in that situation. We all have friends and family we share life with on a daily basis, but for the creative part, it is so special and nice to relate to and connect with others who have the same interests as you...the artists of the world.

I am still learning the "ropes" here...not knowing nearly as much as some of the bloggers who have been doing it for years. I do think it is interesting the varying degrees of posting that people do....some are very personal with photos of family and little children and others blog more about their work with tutorials and creative information. For me, personally, I am reminded that what we do put out there on the internet stays forever, so I try to be discerning about personal matters and keep the platform more about the creative life.

Each one of us shares a common interest in our blogs, our love and our passion for the creative life. It is something that we all love to do and are lucky to be able to. The creative outlet is so strong, so powerful, to be able to express yourself through your work and have others benefit from it is truly a wonderful thing. How good is it to know that when you paint a dancing snowman holding a bottle of champagne celebrating New Year's, someone you don't even know is smiling because of it....you are making someone else happy while at the same time enjoying the creative process yourself....it is a win win for sure!

To find something that you love to do and then get paid for it most certainly is the best of both worlds.

So welcome everyone to my guest blog for the week. I do hope all of you wonderful and talented creative-types will have a wonderful New Year's Eve tonight!

I am having a dinner party so I must go and make the dessert....a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth confection called "Angel Pie".

Check out my blog "from the nest" at www.caroleldridge.typepad.com to get the recipe that I will post to my blog later on today and see how I set the festive New Year's table with my flower arrangements using blue hydrangeas and white carnations...smells wonderful as well.

Happy New Year Everyone!

more later,
carol

Poetry Cafe

Hello Everybody, Happy Saturday and in a few days Happy New Year!!!!!

To celebrate the new year of 2008 entering into our lives hopefully full of hope and new goals I leave a poem by John Clare.

The Old Year
by John Clare
The Old Year's gone away      To nothingness and night: We cannot find him all the day      Nor hear him in the night: He left no footstep, mark or place      In either shade or sun: The last year he'd a neighbour's face,      In this he's known by none. All nothing everywhere:      Mists we on mornings see Have more of substance when they're here      And more of form than he. He was a friend by every fire,      In every cot and hall-- A guest to every heart's desire,      And now he's nought at all. Old papers thrown away,      Old garments cast aside, The talk of yesterday,      Are things identified; But time once torn away      No voices can recall: The eve of New Year's Day      Left the Old Year lost to all.

Pre-New Year Postie

It's She again! I just wanted to let everyone know how much I've enjoyed hosting JBC this week! It's been a real pleasure. I wanted to leave you all with a valuable lesson I've learned over the past 2 days.

While the holiday season is a great joy to me, it also is a time of sadness in my life due to past memories. I think a lot of us feel this way. Although we enjoy celebrating the holiday season, memories of lost family and friends or memories of sad times can creep in through the festivities. I was having one such day yesterday, and this morning, I was in for a big surprise! My boyfriend stopped by my house this morning bearing flowers, a teddy bear, coffee, breakfast, and a note he'd printed online. Everything was wonderful, but the message inside the note was what I really needed to hear. I thought I'd share it with all of you as the new year approaches. It's all about letting go of the past and looking onward to a bright future. So, as we look forward to what's the come in 2008, let's leave some of our sad memories behind and start anew. Let's create positivity in our art next year!

"There is tremendous freedom in letting go. It is liberation to free ourselves of things that clutter our lives; too many possessions, useless emotions, unhealthy habits, old beliefs, even people that drain our energy. All of these things and more can weigh us down. Every once in awhile it's good to "clean out our closets" literally and figuratively.

Like pruning dead branches or like a snake shedding an old skin, we need to let go of the what no longer serves or what no longer fits, so that there is room for something new, alive, and what is needed at this time in our lives. Yet, we are a possessive society. We often hold on to things, feelings, and relationships out of habit or, many times, out of fear of being without. For so much of learning to let go is about learning to trust. We have to be able to trust that, indeed, new branches will grow, that there is a new skin under the old one. And yet, to the degree that we are willing to let go, we are able to receive. When we stop holding on and clinging to anything, we realize we have everything.

For in reality, we really own nothing. Certainly, we don't own people. Our spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, children are not really "ours." Even if we own the title to our house or car, such possessions can be gone in a moment, taken by a natural disaster, an accident, or financial circumstances. Native Americans could not grasp the European concept of "owning" land, anymore than one can own the sky. For everything belongs to the universe, as even we do. When we allow ourselves to rethink our sense of "ownership," it is easier to let go. We no longer need to feel burdened by the responsibility of having to hold on to something. Rethink the value of a prized book collection, a coveted job, and feelings for an old flame. Perhaps it isn't necessary to physically get rid of something, but letting go of the power that a person, ideology, or material object possesses is truly freeing."

Creative Spark #1: Performing

It's She again from She Became a Butterfly. Today, I wanted to tell you a bit about my favorite art form, as well as to give you some prompting questions.

I am a performer. That's what I was made to do. Now, some may say that I'm supposed to be the insurance agent that I am by day, but I would beg to differ. My Musical Theatre degree in college was well worth getting! I am a singer, a dancer, an actor, a writer, a choreographer, a performer. I use my body, mind, and soul to create art onstage. I choose performing in musicals and plays as my favorite art form, because I am free to become someone else for awhile, to entertain others, to make them believe that I am the character I'm portraying.

My love for this started out when I was 3 years old, taking my first dance lesson. I continued with dance through age 15, sang in school choirs, show choir, played an instrument in marching band, and decided to major in music and theatre when it came time to choose a degree in college. During my summers in college, I performed professionally in Falmouth, MA (VERY close to Hyannis where you held the creative bazaar!!) with the College Light Opera Company. Perhaps Melba has heard about it.

As an adult, I still peform in shows as well as choreograph the dancing in musicals. I'm also currently a member of a professional dinner theatre here in Ohio where I live.

So, my questions for you are as follows:
1. Did you persue any physical art forms while growing up (such as dance, voice lessons, acting)? If so, what were they and how did they make you feel?
2. Do you like expressing yourself in front of a crowd or are you more comfortable with a few close friends?
3. Have you ever been in a play, musical, voice recital, acting class? If so, tell us about it. How did it make you feel? Was it a positive experience?
4. If you had the chance now, would you take a class involving a physical art form like acting or dancing? Which would you take? What's stopping you from taking it?
5. Do you enjoy seeing productions of plays or musicals? Which one is your favorite and why?

Be sure to leave a link to your answers in the comments section!

In closing, I'm going to leave you with a few photos of me performing. Enjoy! (PS, the pot I'm smoking is FAKE!!)

   

Linkity-Link

I am a link-o-holic. I admit it. There are just so many wonderful creative people out there that I simply want to soak in all they have to offer. Here are a few of my faves & why!

A Conspiracy of Blessings -- This is a rather new site run by "The Conspirator".
What she does:  She makes Blessing Boxes and Spirit Dolls to give out for FREE!
Why she does it: "Because humanity needs a new mythology of generosity to counteract our current glorification of greed. Because humanity needs to remember its creativity to counteract its commidification."
How you can help: She is always in need of new materials since she provides everything out of pocket herself. Clean out your crafting drawers and send her your misc materials! I know she'd feel blessed!

Kara Day at KJewelry has always been a fave jewelry designer of mine. She's a working mother by day and a diva beader at night! My fave piece is the Purple Awareness Bracelet. The color purple stands for domestic violence, sexual assault survivor, religious tolerance, animal abuse, the victims of 9/11 (includes police and firefighters), pancreatic cancer, Chron's Disease and colitis, cystic fibrosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, thyroid cancer, ADD, ADHD, alzheimers, and cancer survivors. It's only $10. How can you beat that?

I must admit, I'm a huge fan of Mary Ann from Follow Your Bliss Designs! I love her  whimsical style and the creative way she weaves a piece of art together from start to finish. She always adds little touches that seem to complete an already perfect work. I'm especially fond of her mixed media aceos. I love the way she uses fabrics and paper, sewing it all together into a lovely piece of art. Be sure to check out her etsy store!

Talented Leah at Creative Everyday led me to Create a Connection a few years back. I'm not sure how I stumbled upon her site, but I'm so glad I did. She is one amazing, inspiring woman! She recently started her own online store/art gallery at Blue Tree Art Gallery. Her specialities, in my humble opinion, are her TREES and her depiction of women in different stages of understanding themselves. I've often felt strong connections to some of her artwork. My absolute favorite, and one I am definitely going to buy someday from her gallery, is "Girl". Don't you just love it?

Daily, I visit the lovely Claudia at On a Limb for her gift of storytelling. It's an art form for this lady--believe me! When she's not telling us stories about her encounters with spirits (yes--she sees them), she's commentating on Bigfoot doing yoga. He does. Seriously. Stop by and check her site out!

I'm a huge fan of buying DIY! The jewelry from Naughty Secretary Club has been a forever favorite. My Paper Crane can't be beat if you're looking for some plushies!

If you're a book lover like me, you'll LOVE Paperback Swap and Book Mooch! Tired of paying full price for the books you want to read? Post the books you want to get rid of and swap them for the books you're looking for! It's a free service. When shipping, you do need to pay media mail rates out of your own pocket, but the favor is returned when you request a book from someone else. I'm more partial to book mooch, because you get more points towards "free" books than on Paperback Swap.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop there for today. I hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

BlogEvolution

Hi all, it's She from She Became a Butterfly! I'm very excited to be your Christmas week host here on Just Be Connected (can you see the beaming smile on my face?)!

I have been blogging since 1998ish. I started on Blogger with a little blog I called "Psychodelic Pippi." I wrote about my college woes and continued on to real world topics after graduating. As a result of this site, I met many wonderful bloggers whom I still call friends all these years later!

From there, I used Homestead to make my very first website. I used the web manager to help create the site and housed information on the plays and musicals I performed in as well as my basic likes and dislikes. I continued to use my blogger account to journal on.

In 2002, I bought my first domain, "The She Channel" [insert real name for "She"]. I utilized Lissa Explains and taught myself how to write basic html. This site was much more elaborate and had it's own blog, still powered by blogger. Later on, I switched to Wordpress which I still use today. I wrote a lot about having depression, being a sexual assault survivor, and the basic struggles of living during that time. It was a hard time, but I am eternally grateful that I had a place to write all of my thoughts and feelings down.

In February of 2006, I started my own Sexual Assault Survivor site and message board -- Taking Back Control. I wanted to reach out to others who were suffering from the same shame and guilt I was. I wanted to speak out against this topic that polite society doesn't like to speak about. I found so many courageous women just like me who were trying to heal and trying to make a difference in the life of others. The message board is password protected so that only members can view the topics. If you or anyone you know might benefit from the support my site offers, here's the link to register for the message board.

I've also participated in the annual Blogathon for the past 2 years, starting in July of 2007. Blogging to raise money for kids with cancer has humbled me and even got me volunteering on the oncology ward of my local children's hospital. You can see my 2006 blogathon here and my 2007 blogathon here if you'd like.

Finally, at the beginning of 2007, I decided that it was time for a domain change. I retired my old site and bought She Became a Butterfly dot Net. After a year and a half of counseling and after meeting so many wonderful survivors on the net, I was ready for a new chapter in my life. I'd finally emerged from the cocoon and was ready to spread my wings.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve to all those celebrating!! Love, She

Connecting our Community

Still time to sign up for the Randon Re-Gift Secret Swap~ HERE {Please leave me your email me address in your comment. Thanks!}

Hope your Holidays are Merry and Bright!

If you have anything you want to share with your fellow Creative Bloggers please leave a comment here or email me and I will spread the word in my next Sunday; Connecting our Community post.

You have a voice we want to hear at Create a Connection; Please Share Yourself!

and one more thing...

You don't have to have a blog to be part of our community; you can connect by leaving comments and email!

XO, Melba

{If you want to be added to our list of Creative Bloggers email me~ melbamcmullin@comcast.net.}

Poetry Cafe

Hi Everybody, Happy Saturday and Happy Holidays!!!

I want to share the most popular Chirstmas poem this Saturday and my favorite.

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

A Creative Challenge - Creative Every Day 2008!

Here are the basics first! "Creative Every Day 2008" is a new challenge I've started to help infuse my life and lives of others with daily creativity.

• Creativity is meant in the broadest sense, so it doesn't have to be something art related. Your creative acts could be in cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay or whatever!
• You do not have to post every day! I know for myself that having to post every day for a year would be too much. You can post about your creativity in whatever form you like, whether that be once a day, a few times a week, once a week, or once a month. Do what works for you!
• This is a low pressure challenge, with the idea of bringing more creativity into our lives. I will not be the creativity police. I hope that we can all find ways simple and grand to express our creative selves. Have fun with it!
• If you'd like to join in, leave a comment on my blog or email me and I'll add your name to the list of participants which is in the sidebar of my blog.
• If you find this challenge after the 1st of January, you can still join in!

Here's the background:

I'm planning a new challenge for 2008 called "Creative Every Day 2008" and I welcome anyone who is interested to join in! Every year, I love the way the "Art Every Day Month" challenge (AEDM) creates a great sense of community, brings together people with different styles and backgrounds, and gives me a kick in the butt to keep on creating when I might otherwise do nothing. I've been wanting to find a way to extend the process, but as much as I admire those who create and post a piece of art every day of the year, I knew that would burn me out. Besides, it's not really my goal to create a piece of art every day. But I do want to be creative every day.

Originally, I was going to call my blog, "Everyday Creative" which to me means a person who is creative in their day-to-day life whether that be through making a piece of artwork or doodling on a receipt or cooking something or taking a walk to gain inspiration in the colors of nature or re-decorating a room or knitting or whatever! That domain name was taken, so I went with CreativeEveryDay.com and included Everyday Creative in the tag line.  One of the things I aspire to is to be creative every day and also to inspire creativity in others whether that be through my blog, my art, through leading groups like AEDM, or through someday leading workshops or writing a book. I know that challenging myself in specific ways helps to keep me productive, so I'm hoping this challenge will serve as a daily reminder of what I want for myself.

2007 was a wonderful year for me and I want to keep up that momentum and kick it into a whole new gear with a year of being Creative Every Day. I've made a logo for it which is at the top of this post (simply right click and save to use on your blog.) It will also be in my sidebar along with a list of those who are participating. You don't need a blog to participate! Again, this will be a very low pressure challenge. I won't be the creativity police with you (or myself!) The idea behind it will be to encourage myself and others to find creativity in every day and in the everyday things of life. I won't post daily because I think that would be a bit too much of a burden for me, but I will post about every day's creativity in some form or another. And I'll encourage others to do the same, whether that be every day, every few days, once a week or once a month. Throughout the year, I'll also be posting creativity tips that help me and hopefully will provide some inspiration to anyone looking to infuse their life with more creative goodness or who might need a little push to get out of a stuck place. If you have questions or want to join in, feel free to pop me an email or leave a comment here.

Thanks, happy creating, and Happy Holidays every one!!

-Leah, Creative Every Day & Blue Tree Art Gallery

 

Linky Lovey Loves

So, I love finding new and fun links, but sharing a bunch of links, it's hard to know where to focus. How bout a random assortment? O.k.? O.K.

Podcasts:

I love podcasts. They're fabulous to listen to while painting or cleaning. Here are some of my favs. If you use Itunes, you can subscribe to these podcasts and it will update when there are new ones.

Craftcast: Quick, snappy podcasts relating to all things crafty. Alison Lee has a wonderful voice and is a pleasure to listen to.

Craft Sanity: I really love this podcast because it feels like a long phone conversation that you're listening in on. And the podcasts tend to run about an hour or more which I really like when I'm working. It's not updated as often as some of the others, but I enjoy it!

ZenCast: These podcasts tend to be recorded talks that relate to buddhism. The ones I've listened to have been fascinating and soothing.

Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me: This is a NPR  program that takes an amusing look at current events. Never fails to make me laugh.

Hip Tranquil Chick: Author of a book by the same name, business owner and yoga instructor,  Kimberly Wilson talks about various issues related to anything from  nutrition to yoga to creativity.

Some items I'm drooooling over...

This beautiful tray from Lille looks like it belonged at my tree and bird themed wedding!

How purty is this necklace? I love the colors. This piece is from Maryellen Kim of Twist Style.

Can you tell I'm on a birdy kick? I would love to have this lampshade from 2Jane in my living room.

Random Assortment:

Here on the Coloring Castle site they have these cool mandalas that you can download and print and best of all...color! I haven't used these yet, but oh, they look like fun!

I love getting envelopes printed with beautiful typography. If you'd like to add some fun fonts to your repertoire, then check out dafont.com!

Collage Clearinghouse is a cool website all about one of my favorite mediums, collage!

And if you're into collage check out the free vintage images on MAKE or this incredible sources of images on Flickr!

I've gotta run and finish up a little holiday shopping. I hope you enjoy the links! Come back tomorrow for another post!

Happy creating and linky lovin'!
-Leah, Creative Every Day