bringing me joy

This week I've been devouring Juliette Crane's newest online class, Abstracts & Backgrounds. I am loving it. It is exactly what I need right now, as I struggle with getting my creativity back. It is simple and messy and loose.

thoughts on 26

I have been creatively lost lately. I have had no desire to create things. I turned 26 last weekend, and I haven't made a list for 26. 

I've been spending a lot of my energies on organizing my life. Decluttering. Cleaning. Trying to simplify. It is a hard process and something that I am not naturally very good at. Perhaps there is a feeling that if I can streamline my life there will be more energies for living a creative life. Perhaps I feel that if I declutter enough, there will be more space in my life for the things that make my heart sing. 

I have decided to not make a list of 26. My goals and priorities seem to change so much throughout the year, that by April I feel like I have to rush and cross all these things off a list that doesn't inspire me anymore. 

Here is my 25 list and what I managed to accomplish. 

1.                 improve my 5k time

2.                 Take a drawing class

3.                 explore a new city

4.                 go surfing

5.                 make real hot cocoa

6.                 drink sangria

7.                 make salad dressing from scratch

8.                 Take a staycation

9.                 Get a design *out there*

10.               do something spontaneous – I’m counting my octopus tattoo, which was not planned, or drawn in advance.

11.               do yoga daily for one month

12.               read seven deadly sins  - I read about half of it, and that’s enough for me. I’m getting rid of it.

13.               make a fire

14.               declutter studio – Well I did a bit of decluttering, but more is needed…soon

15.               slip n'slide

16.               paint a big canvas

17.               make ice cream

18.               clean out my closet

19.               screenprint something

20.               chinup – Well technically, I still can’t do a chinup. But I did swing upside down from the flying trapeze.

21.               draw a self portrait

22.               finish my quilt

23.               ride a bike

24.               live with less

25.               grow something – I did grow something. Mould, but I don’t think that counts. 

I did get inspired enough to make this little birdy stamp this week. And I'm quite smitten with him. And my heart sang. 

For now, I'm happy with that.