art in the morning

I think it says something about my personality that reading a book about writing instead gets me to paint in my journal.  It is a good book and is as much about creativity and meditation  as it is about writing.  I found this quote:  "Inspiration means breathing in."  Breathe in.  Be filled.  Yes.

While playing in my journal this morning I was breathing in the yummy almond smell of the Coccoina glue that I found a Paper Source last weekend.  I had a container a while back but it got all dried out and I had to toss it.  This stuff is wonderful.  And it comes with a little brush that stows handily in the center of the tin.  And did I mention that it smells like almods?  What else can I paste into my little book?

I was also enjoying some music and the first sunny morning in a while which was making my studio quite cheerful.  I highly recommend sorting your iTunes playlist by album rather than artist, which leads to interesting juxtopositions.  For example, this morning, Achtung Baby was followed Acoustic Soul.  I would never have thought to put U2 and India Arie in the same playlist, but it worked really well.  And I heard this song, which I needed to hear today:

Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I've been hiding for much too long
'Cause I've been too afraid to let it show
'Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, It's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

- Strength, Courage and Wisdom by India Arie

After spending some time this way this morning, I find that I feel a whole lot better and more centered than I have most of this week, and I also have left some of my inner artist showing as I head out for work.  The outfit I picked out today is a long silk skirt the color of raspberry jam in the sun, a grey hoodie under my favorite black cotton jacket, a long strand of garnets, and my big brown Frye boots.  If I worked at any other computer company I'd probably stand out in this outfit.

Comments

[Jennine]

Oh, Dona. I can picture you in that outfit ~Beautiful~ and I tell you, even though it has been rough for me since I moved back from NYC, I feel like it has given me some time with my inner artist and it does show up in places like your outfits. And I am so happy to see that in the mirror before I leave my room. Reminds me of my inner child. That artist that has always been there when I used to color with my Crayolas and organize them in the most Pantone-ish kind of way, revel in making the best mud pies with the red North Carolina clay and insist on wearing my palazzo pants (even tho I had grown taller, but not wider). Imagine that. Yes, it looks like highwater palazzo pants! The very first embarrassing moments I caused my Mother in a long string. : ) It's good for her. Ha!

Thank you for posting those song lyrics too. I can barely ever get all of the lyrics when listening to a song play. I have to make the time to read the lyrics as well. So, thank you for that. I needed them today too. "Strength, courage and wisdom." Sounds like what we talked about before. ; )

Btw, I got some garnet earrings and a garnet/silver necklace this year as a gift. Love them. Match with everything it seems ; ) And they are my birthstone.... Remember to show me your strand next time I visit. Or next time You visit Me ; ) ...in my New Plaaaaace. ahhhhhhhh

I want some of that glue to play with. I usually mess up my glueing, collaging projects because I have not invested in/researched the right glue.

And I want an iPod so I can even have a playlist....hahahaha.....All being added to my Goals 08 list ; )

BTW, I laughed out loud reading your piece about your personality reading a book about writing inspiring you to paint in your journal. Love it!!!! Tres Dona. Wish I could get the accent mark and the tilda in that sentence. It is fun to say out loud. Try it.

[D]

I'm so glad that paper ended up somewhere special! I found it at the Art Institute of Chicago and have been rationing it out. That was the last piece. . .

[Courtney Kennedy]

apparently, I really, really loved it! sorry for the double post, I'm still learning how to use this new-fangled computer technology...

[Courtney Kennedy]

You looked gorgeous on Friday. I loved that outfit!
C.

[Courtney]

You looked gorgeous on Friday! I loved the outfit!

C.

[kat]

That book is beautiful. It looks rich and vibrant and full of a life of its own. What a wonderful way to start the morning. If I can get up early next week, I might try something similar. :-)