So, here it is. I haven't blogged since February - life kind of took over for a while and not in a good way. Some very difficult family decisions were made between February and July - namely having to find assisted living places for my grandma and mother. Not an easy task and I have no siblings, so a lot of heavy weight was put on me (I owe so much to my husband and kids for their support and strength and comic relief). I'm happy to say that both my mother and grandma are at wonderful places with amazing, kind and caring people watching over them
Anyway - even with all that, I've been blessed to be able to enjoy some really great arty things along the way. I've taken some amazing online classes from Misty Mawn, Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise and Katie Kendrick which I think have helped me gain some confidence in what I can do. Also a few weeks ago I got to go to Art and Soul in Portland to take a class with Misty. Pretty awe inspiring. She's so talented and so giving and lovely. I met up with Lorraine who I had met briefly at a class in LA and she and her friends let me hang out with them all weekend which was the most fun!! Going to these things is not easy for me...I'm not the most outgoing person on earth, but those ladies made me feel completely welcome and I am so grateful to them!
Since I've been home from that event - I've wrestled with the idea of coming back to blogging - the good, the bad, the ugly. Does the stuff I make matter if no one sees it? What if no one even reads this anymore? Comments? All of it can sort of make you feel inadequate and insecure if you go down that road. I'd like to start sharing again. I'm excited about the classes I've taken and am taking and the fun things I'm doing and learning - I'm excited about everything and feel like this fall is a new beginning of sorts for me. I think having readers and comments and all that is great fun, but it can't be the reason to start up again. This has to be for me. I need to feel like it's ok to put stuff out there and be happy with that - not waiting to see if anyone else likes it. It's wonderful if people share your enthusiasm, but it has to be enough if it's only you. So, that said...I'll be coming back to this spot that I've neglected for months and months. Maybe it'll just be a picture or a thought to share, but for me, that's enough to get started again - I hope you'll come and visit! I've missed you! xoxo
Collage I made in Misty's class in Portland (10/11). Not sure she's done yet, but I'll just keep looking at her till I decide!
My vote is TO blog:) .....I've missed seeing you around the WWW !!!
Posted by: raesha | October 14, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Thanks Raesha!! Missed seeing you too!
Posted by: Jackie | October 15, 2011 at 08:27 AM
birds keep showing up in my art work too. i see you have a bird in your piece. hmm. oh, blog on for sure.
Posted by: marylouse | October 16, 2011 at 03:13 PM
TO BLOG FOR SURE!! Looking forward to seeing what you are up to with all your classes!
Posted by: Rachel | October 16, 2011 at 06:20 PM
it's a treat to see you back out here!
i love your art work & i respect your transparency. so sorry to hear about your mom & grandmother. that is so so very hard.
blessings to you today xo
Posted by: paige | October 16, 2011 at 06:40 PM
it's nice to see you back in this space jackie. blog for you and only for you. that's what makes you interesting and keeps us coming back. xx
Posted by: kristin | October 16, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Welcome back. You were midded
Posted by: memi | October 16, 2011 at 11:13 PM