On Self-Doubt & Busting Out The Paint Brushes

The other day Charlotte and I were home alone and she was painting, like she often does 

when the mood strikes her. She gets out everything she needs and just starts. 

there's no thinking about what exactly she's going to do, not questioning if it's a good idea... 

or even whether or not she is a great painter. She just likes to paint.

So she does. 

I decided that maybe I felt like painting too,  so I grabbed my sketch book and the 

water colors and painted at the little table next right next to her.

Suddenly I remembered that I actually like painting, just for the fun of it, with no expectations or end 

result in mind. Then I realized that the reason I probably don't do it that much is because I don't think I am very good at it. And then I realized it really doesn't matter though either way.

I love drawing and doodling and always have been a doodler/drawer.

That's just who I am.

So there.

I think it feels good to try different things or the things you have kind of forgotten that you enjoyed, whether or not you think you are any good at it. And whether or not you even keep what you are working on or throw it away when you are done. I know it's kind of a cliche, but it really is the process and enjoying the activity, whatever it may be, while you are doing it.

There are things I know I never try because I think I wouldn't be any good at it... I mean, it's

not really even a conscience thought but just a little something in the way back of my mind.

Do you do that, too?

Since we re-painted the living room there is one wall that is empty and it's the perfect spot for something big. I need a  b i g  canvas/print/something and I haven't seen anything that size, that I like, that is in my price range, so I think I am just going to make my own art to put there.

I am still trying to figure out what eaxctly, but I will... I have a few ideas.

And if I don't love it... or I mess up then I will just fix it or cover it with something else... 

I know I will figure something out. I was thinking about all of this- about creativity and what I love to do, what I am scared to do without totally realizing I am scared to do it, why I doubt myself, 

what makes me happy and how positive it is to spend my time creating.

And then I remembered that quote by Sylvia Plath that I love, because it's so true.

And then I realized I absolutely do not want to spend my days in self-doubt and I don't want 

my kids to, either. And that is why I am taking action(my one little word for 2015) and trying new things and doing the things I want to do instead of wishing I could or telling myself that "some day" I will.

The hard part is actually stopping the negative self-talk and doubting though.

Right?

Is there any area in your life where you need to let go of the self-doubt?

Or that without realizing it, you have let that little nagging voice of doubt keep you 

from trying something you want to try?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

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Lazy Girl Art :: Emily Dickinson

Oh, that Emily Dickinson.
Okay, friends-- I give you... the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to spruce up any empty corner
in your house.
This quote was written with a super-thick black Sharpie on foam board... the cost was virtually nothing.
This foam board is from Hobby Lobby and probably cost me around... $3... BUT it was actually bought and used for
something else first and then I re-used it for this.
So, basically FREE.
I'm kind of addicted to making these now.
This hangs in a corner of my living room by the front door and my other one hangs in the upstairs hallway.
You can see my other one here.

What quote/phrase/saying would you want if you had one of these?
Because I've got an idea...

>>>>>>>>

Lazy Girl Art

Check out this super easy and kinda awesome(if I do say so myself) art I made for my upstairs
hallway today.
All it took was the following items and just a few minutes. Seriously, like less than five minutes.

* 1 very large canvas
  pencil
  XL black sharpie

After I wrote the phrase in pencil I intended to paint over it but realized I did not have quite enough black paint and I was too
impatient to wait until I got more.
Anyway, I used one of those really fat, thick Sharpie's instead.
I kinda love it.
Oh-- and this canvas came from Eric's grandparent's house( his grandma used it to work on her puzzles)
so it literally cost me nothing. Not a dime.
Doesn't get any better than that.

Happy Friday, y'all.
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Thirty Minute Art

Recipe for quick, cheap art:

One canvas 

newspaper

buttons

modge podge

scrapbook paper

scissors

Inspiration = This Emerson quote:

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

love this quote.

I love a quick and easy project for  the kids--and myself.

I usually lose interest on anything too involved and take forever to finish it, if I finish it.

A couple weeks ago the kids made these heart collages and I think they turned out so cute and 

they were pretty proud that they made them themselves.

I heart modge podge.

Now to find a place to hang our masterpieces...

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Everyone here woke up a little grumpy so hopefully we can turn the morning around.

The little lady and I have lots of running around to do today but I think we are going to start 

our morning off with coffee and vanilla bean scones.

Have a great day!

{Patio Art}

This is where we spent Saturday morning.

And most of the day, really.

On the back patio.

Barefoot. Sun shining. 

In and out the back door a hundred times.

In the sandbox, getting cups and cups of water from the rain barrel.

Reading magazines, drinking coffee and eating our lunch outside.

We got out the paints and painted canvases and these pots. 

The kids loved painting the canvases and can't wait for them to be hung.

Sometimes I forget how proud they are of their work when I step back at don't butt in at all, 

not even to mention how they are missing the cardboard and getting the paint all over the patio.

Oh well, the rain will wash it away.

So our pots are painted and dry and ready to be planted in now.

Basil? Lavender? Daisies? Hmmmm.....decisions.

Charlotte's braids were each dipped in paint at least twice I think.

It was a lovely day on the patio.

Happy Monday everyone!

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Me, the Beaver

Just in case you were wondering, this is what I would look like as a Beaver. Yep, a beaver.

 

Wyatt drew this picture for me and told me that this is what I would look like if I was a Beaver, not my regular self dressed up as a beaver but a real beaver.  Hmmmm...could've been worse, a pig or elephant would have been much harder on my self esteem. The beaver is kind of cute.