Same tour, different itinerary

I’m honored to be tapped again to participate in this blog tour.  I answered these questions in mid-May in this post, just after (coincidentally) my daughter was sick.  Why go on the same trip yet again three months later? I imagine there’s new sites to see! I was curious to see how my projects have changed.  Any time there’s an opportunity to examine my life or habits, sign me up. Tat from Mum in Search nominated me with such lovely compliments! It also seems that the rules have relaxed. Tat didn’t ask me if I wanted to participate and I almost totally missed even seeing that she nominated me because I’m rarely on Twitter. Without further ado…

1. What am I working on?

Just like last time, I’m coming off of my daughter’s illness and my own.  We also had both a birth and a death in the family this past week.  And sweet girl begins kindergarten today (so excited!!!).  I made my new niece these letters for her room:

Besides the work in progress shown in the very last photo, I am doing a few commissioned mixed-media pieces and filling my Etsy shop with artwork.  I also have some photography gigs lined up.  I’ve been trying to print out a few photos to enjoy them.

Mostly, I think I’m in one of those periods where you incubate more than you create.  I am reading a ton, trying to rest here and there, and working on lesson plans for my fall religious school class. I’ve done a little guitar song leading, a little traveling, and played lots of board games with my daughter.

I am behind in all my classes.  Gosh it feels good to say that and be ok with it! Perhaps now that school is starting, I’ll get back up to speed.  Honestly, it has felt like an accomplishment just to read all the emails I receive every day.  (I do love keeping up with everyone’s blogs!)

Oh and my craft room is a disaster.  I’ve been working on organizing all my unmounted stamps.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I’m told it’s got a child-like innocence and whimsy to it.  I got this lovely compliment recently which is so encouraging:

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I really can’t NOT.  I always feel like I write to know how I feel about something.  I notice the same with my photography and artwork.  It’s a process of discovery, uncovering who I am beneath the surface.  I’m almost always comforted by the artistic process and what arises for me.  I love the feeling of flow that comes when I’m immersed in something artistic.  My type-A mind shuts off and I can express myself intuitively.  It’s a way of simplifying.

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

In my mixed-media pieces, I begin with an intention.  What is the message or feeling I’m trying to convey? Usually there’s a phrase or quote that I’ve come across that inspires me, so I will envision what would visually make that come forward best.  I sketch it on paper or canvas in pencil and then start playing with paint and background layers.  Then I add ephemera, rub-ons, stamping, and doodling until it’s delightfully busy while still balanced as a whole.

Works in progress…

In photography, I just feel it out.  Once I’m snapping away and looking at nature or people through the viewfinder, I sense where to go next.  I love nature macro work from different/unusual perspectives and candid photos of people when they are naturally being their beautiful selves.

For this blog, honestly the words just flow out of me.  I have always loved writing as a method of communication much more than speaking, which is why I hardly answer the phone anymore.  🙂

Since I already passed the baton in my first post, I’m letting myself off the hook for doing it again.  Plus, I have to go make dinner…