Collage Diva

Happiness is sharing our stories.

 

I needed a photo to go with my Art Saves story for crescendoh.com. I thought it was time to take a photo showing my teeth! Many of you who have been following me know that I've needed some major dental work. If you look back on my self portraits, you see only a cheshire cat grin. I'm so happy that I can flash my teeth and feel good about it! I'm not out of the woods, yet, as I do need lots of expensive and yes, painful surgery. The good news is that I've come a LOOOONG way and I'm feeling great about my smile. I want to thank all of the participants of my True North Arts online workshops in the last year - your participation helped to fund my work. I am so, so grateful.

I decided today would be a good day to snap this photo. (Thanks to iMac's photo booth.) I had a great day. I shared my experiences with journal-keeping in a presentation at work. It is part of our Friday Lenten Lunch Series. I created a mini-retreat experience that really took us out of our work environment to relax and rejuvenate. I talked about how the journal bridges our active busy minds with our reflective soulful minds. The sharing at the end of the presentation was my favorite part - I loved the questions and comments. Later in the day one woman e-mailed to thank me and to say that she is going to start keeping a journal. Yah!

Earlier in the week Leah at Creative Every Day interviewed me and posted it on her blog. We shared a lovely chat about collage and storytelling. I was so energized after we recorded the conversation. I'm so touched by the comments that people left. If you haven't heard the interview do swing by, HERE. I'm also giving away a spot in my Storytelling + Collage online workshop and you can enter into the giveaway at Creative Every Day. The deadline to enter is this Sunday.

What are your happy stories from this week?

Be sure to check out Jamie Ridler's happiness circle.

12 Secrets Celebration

I'm buzzing here in the tree house this weekend. My creativity is at an all time *HIGH* and it is definitely a time to celebrate. Yesterday I participated on a fabulous celebration call with Jamie Ridler, special guests, and other participants in "The Next Chapter" book blog group. I had no idea when I signed up that I would have the staying power to work through each chapter and blog about it. I had no idea I would meet so many wonderful creatives. I'm so inspired and I love passing that inspiration along.

Our chat was about celebrating and the role of celebration in our creativity process. What a discovery! I hadn't made the connection of celebration as a step in the creativity process. I love to celebrate with people, with food, with creative parties -- but yesterday's call gave me so many ideas on how and WHEN to celebrate. Here are some of my notes:

Take time after an accomplishment to savor it before diving into the next project. Celebrations are relaxing and fun. Celebrating gives us a chance to take a break before revving up for the next project.

Celebrate with others. Invite others who know how to do the happy dance along with you. I've had some friends who have been jealous or like to throw rocks at my balloons. Now, these friends won't get invited to celebrate. It is important to know who your celebratory friends are.

Gift of solitude. For many of us artists we like our alone time. It is a gift and great way to celebrate to take some time to go to a bookstore or coffee shop, solo.

Pre-celebrations. Celebrating along the way at different check points is a great idea. I've always just celebrated at the end. Try celebrating after the preparation stages to refuel before hitting the finish line.

Celebration as self-care. Realizing how necessary it is to celebrate as part of the creativity process will help to build in the happy re-energizing points in our creative cycles.

Celebration shows our gratitude for what we've done and what we have.

Celebrate both the big and small successes.

Celebrate by commemorating the event with a scrapbook page, art journal page, or blog post.

Celebrating honors our work, validating it, acknowledging it, and lifting it up.

Celebrating feels so darn good. giving ourselves the gift of relishing the good feelings and nurturing the creative spirits is a way of saying THANKS.

Visit Jamie Ridler's blog to listen to the call. You'll even hear my voice a few times on the recording. Jamie also has a wonderful collection of audio recordings of the highly creative bloggers who were featured throughout the blog book group. CLICK HERE to spark your creativity.

More celebrations to come!

Mandala Eye Candy - Visit my True North Arts blog to see a wonderful selection of art from around the world.

Personal Map Making - Tomorrow I'm posting a new True North Arts post on making personal maps. The journal page that I made this morning and pictured in this post uses some of my altered maps. Learn about this and other map making techniques of the Collage Diva variety. The prompt also includes an interview with Marney of Artella.

Collage Diva 1-Year Blog Anniversary! - I can hardly believe that I've been blogging for one year already. My anniversary date is on Monday. Join me for my anniversary celebration. See what treats I have in store for you for this up coming year.

Secret 12: Planning to Achieve Your Goals

I made it to Secret 12: Planning to Achieve Your Goals the final chapter in the book, "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin. Jamie Ridler hosted an amazing book group and each week for 12 weeks we worked through the book. When I started I was skeptical that I would be able to stick with it and blog each week. Well, much to my surprise I did more than just post a reflection. More often than not I found myself creating my own exercises and unique ways to visually share my thoughts. This week is no different, I designed a character map as seen above.

More Serendipity In Action!
Each month I publish an art journaling prompt for my Soul Journal blog. Next month my post is about personal maps. Last night when I was rereading the last chapter and brainstorming what I might post today I noticed a worksheet that my son was filling out for an English assignment. The worksheet was a "character map" that had a cartoon character drawn in the center and spots for filling in some quick facts about the character. It wasn't until this morning when I was journaling that I realized that I could take some of my photocopies of maps and create a fun character map of my own - Collage Diva style.

The 12 Secret Connection
This final chapter is about writing a personal creative mission statement, sharing our creative work, and setting creative goals. I found my character map as a great brainstorming tool for defining where I'm at. Presto! I can't believe I came up with another fun activity.

It has been a wonderful journey. Not only have I met so many new highly creative bloggers, but I've discovered more about me. My creativity has opened up in ways I couldn't have imagined and I now see more than ever where my gifts are and where I am on the map. I'm sending Jamie Ridler and all of the 12 Secrets Tribe a big {soul hug} - I can't wait to hear your voices on the Celebration Call next week.

Join me on April 5, 2009 for some personal map making fun!
The Soul Journal post will be packed full of great ideas including the steps I took to make my character map, pictured above. I have other map making tutorials planned and an interview with Marney Makridakis, Founder of Artella. Marney will share with us her love for maps and how she uses them to reach her personal and professional goals. Be sure to visit to enter in a map related giveway.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUL JOURNAL BLOG

Where are you on the map?

What do you love, hear, see, say, think, feel, do, and go?

Related Links
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day

Secret 11: Subtracting Serenity Stealers

I can hardly believe that next week will be the last chapter in the "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" book blog group, hosted by the wonderfully creative and inspiring Jamie Ridler. The time has flown! This week's theme is about knowing what zaps our energy which in turn blocks creativity.

I thought I would share with you, "Collage Diva's Blackberry." Pictured above is my day timer. I have in recent months taken to altering my otherwise pedestrian day book. Would you like to take a closer look inside?

Scroll down and I'll show you around.

Our first stop will be where I go when I'm in a funk and feel lost. I made a tab just for these occasions because who has time or patience when all stirred up inside?

I cut up a card that had been sitting in my desk at work for a couple of years. It came from a dear friend who I worked with who was always so thoughtful by giving me little cards or remembering me on her stops to 7-11 on her way in to work. I decided that I would enjoy the card more if I cut it up and pasted it into my day planner. Lydia is one of those "affirmers" in life. Just thinking of her brings a big smile on my face and you know, I can hear her laugh right now. We are still in touch even though she is in Texas and I'm in New England. When I'm in a funk I like to remember the mountains I've climbed and the friends who have been there along the way.

On the facing page are some questions that I find helpful to ask when I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, burdened or resentful. By asking these questions I can check in with myself. I find I also take ownership of the feelings when I do this.

This week the inner critics came out in full force. Let's turn to the page where I gave those critics a special place.

I pasted in a simple envelope. I like the idea that it is one of those "security" envelopes with the pattern printed on the inside. Glued to the flap is my "soul shield." I made the soul shield recently by cropping my soul armor. Do you have Soul Armor? or a Soul Shield? How about a Soul Journal? Intrigued? Visit my soul journal blog for more details on art journaling with soul.

For now though let's look at what I put inside this envelope.

I wrote down my fears and then my responses.I actually wrote them to my dear friend in an e-mail. She and I are both take steps to realize our dreams. We check in daily and send each other words of encouragement. We also share the scary parts like on this day when the critics were so loud and menacing. On this morning after e-mailing my fears I decided to print a copy and put them in this envelope. I made the envelope so I could open it and go back to review the fears. You know it really felt good to give these critics a voice and a place in my planner.

The planner is a great place to record my discoveries. I write in quotes, paste in pictures or words, and doodle. I find that when I'm a bit tired or worn at work that pulling out my planner, a couple of highlighters and pens and journaling puts me in a great space. I actually feel like me again.

I can't imagine giving up my paper blackberry for a high tech one. It is just too much fun cutting and gluing and doodling in my planner.

In answer to the question what is my biggest serenity stealer, I'd have to say over scheduling. I have the tendency to gorge on the creative buffet found in blogland. I get so excited about the possibilities and I do, do, do way too much. Slowing down is the best medicine. What does your planner look like?

Related Links
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day
Soul Journal

Secret 10: Living in Abundance with Positive Priorities

I think I may be a mandala mama! I'm really hooked on the circular design. As I read the next chapter in Gail McKeekin's book, "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" I found myself drawing the mandala above. This is my visual response to her creative challenge to brainstorm positive priorities. The second exercise is to take these priorities and make a road map where you write down in 2-year increments what you want to manifest at each milestone. What timing. I'm exploring personal maps as I prepare the next Soul Journal prompt on making personal maps. Before I can map out my goals I felt it was important to take some time to explore my positive priorities. I call the mandala above my Wheel of Positive Priorities. Naturally it is about my priorities so I put "me" at the center. This ties in with the idea of a mandala where we see ourselves at the center and from this place we look out and see our connections with others. In the case of my Wheel of Positive Priorities, each item listed is part of the wheel that moves me forward, propels me toward reaching my goals. This chapter is filled with several good exercises and I will definitely spend more time exploring them.

I'm not the only one getting hooked on mandalas. I published a soul journal prompt on mandalas and several soul journal sisters are having fun exploring them. To learn more about the soul journal mandala prompt, CLICK HERE.

Related Links
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Creative Every Day
Soul Journal

Secret 9: Web of Love

Chapter 9 in "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McKeekin is all about strategies for dealing with rejections and roadblocks. I blogged about my reactions to the chapter in the previous post. Peppy Lady another creative blogger left me the following comment:

"This chapter to me was difficult but after reading some post I'm starting to see it in other lights. Ok a little confession I under stood publishers have budgets, sales goals and limited resources. But I use to think rejection some time was the politics of certain place. Coffee is on."

I thought I would post here how I responded:

Hello sweet peppy lady,

Any time there is human interaction there is politics. Sadly getting anywhere involves "who you know." Having said this, "I am an optimist." In recent months, I'm noticing how I'm attracting people in my life who are becoming my alleys in this unknown territory where my dreams are becoming a reality. I believe, that I've discovered my rightful work, my life's work. I'm now compelled to work on my dream project - I wake up at odd hours of the night. The time I spend on it is fills me with such joy. Last fall I wrote a prompt for my Soul Journal project called the Web of Love. The love that fills my work is love that I cast out through my blog and in my interactions with people I meet in the day. This web of love is a net that attracts and catches those who feel the love and "get it."

For me my dream project is not an option for me. I no longer struggle with the fact that I have to work at a job that isn't where I want to be. I need the paycheck and it is where I need to be right now as I transition into making my dreams a reality. As I work on my dream project, I'm not worried about paying my bills. I have no threats of any agent or editor or publisher with their deadlines or input. There will be time for those deadlines and feedback, but for now I'm in the formation stages and loving the process of discovery and creation.

If you are intrigued by my Web of Love you can venture, HERE at www.collagediva.com/souljournal to find this and other art journaling prompts with soul.

Thanks for your e-mail. Responding to your comments have helped me to put in words how I see where I'm at on my creative journey.

{soul hugs}
kathryn

Related Links
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Soul Journal

Secret 9: Transcending Rejections and Roadblocks

Chapter 9 in "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McKeekin is all about strategies for dealing with rejections and roadblocks. This is a great chapter. I've been thinking all week about how I will handle the "rejection letters" when I'm ready to start sending out my proposals. I'm looking forward to getting to that stepping stone in reaching my dreams. I've been imagining myself talking to various people about my project. I imagine that there will be some who will not "get it" and others who "get it" but are not in a position to make it happen. Gail points out that publishers have budgets, sales goals and limited resources. This all makes sense to me. I imagine myself evaluating my prospective business partners as I've evaluated prospective employers. It needs to be a win-win situation. Gail points out that it is important to approach interviews from a place of strength not desperation.

So how do we strengthen ourselves to prepare for rejection letters? For starters we have to believe in our projects and our skills.

The "soul" shield pictured above lists some of my roles and skills that I'm most proud of and wish to use in the future. To find these roles and skills I started by making a list of accomplishments. From there I could see the roles and qualities. This exercise reminded me of one that I did when I was interested in changing careers 10 years ago.

Here are the steps:

1. Draw three columns on a piece of paper.

2. List three accomplishments and place each one in a column. These don't have to be work related. They can be family or fun oriented. Be sure to list three accomplishments that you are proud of.

3. For each accomplishment list the skills that you used. Include both hard and soft skills. Hard skills are things like software or equipment. Soft skills are "people" skills like making clients feel comfortable when they visit the office.

4. List the things you liked about the accomplishment.

5. List the things you didn't like about the accomplishment.

6. List what others commended you on.

7. Look over your lists and circle things that show up in more than one column. Look for patterns in your lists. Are there skills that you used in all of them? What other similarities do you see?

8. Consider projects, jobs, or activities that use the skills that you love.

I found this exercise so helpful. What is one of your accomplishments in the last year?

Related Links
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler

Secret 8: Selecting Empowering Partnerships and Alliances

In the next chapter of "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin, Gail talks about selecting a dream team to help reach our goals. What timing! As I'm taking my dream from concept to reality I realize that I need help. In this chapter, Gail is giving me permission to select my dream team. I'm happy to think that I need help - it takes the burden off me to know everything and I love collaborating with others. I learn so much from hearing other people's perspectives.

This has been a week of many breakthroughs!

When I was a young girl and young adult, I feared asking for help. I also feared criticism. For some reason I thought I had to do everything on my own or else I might be seen as inadequate. As I've grown I realized that it is impossible to know everything. The more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know. I am no longer afraid to ask for help. I have confidence in the talents and skills that I bring to the table and I'm finding that my willingness to share invites those around me to do the same.

By asking for help I need to be open for criticism.

This has been a fantastic and pivotal week for me. A big project that I am working on is taking shape. For the first time in my life I can say with clarity and a strong vision what I want to do for a living. I feel as if I now know my life's purpose. My first project is in the works, it is a project that will pave the way for making my dreams come true.

I took a risk sharing my dream project with my parents. As a child of an engineer (aka professional perfectionist and ultimate critic) I had the experience of seeing the flaws not the strengths in my work If I came home with a report card of all A's and one B, the focus was always on what happened and what could I do to bring up the B. The A's were always overshadowed by the B and I felt like I was never enough and certainly far from being "good" enough. As you can imagine, sharing my dream with my dad, even at the age of 40, was very difficult. To my surprise my dad is intrigued with my concept and even helpful with suggestions and questions. Wow! I see that we are connecting now because I have changed -- I'm open to hear from him and I don't feel defensive when I hear his comments. I feel like I'm exploring the possibilities when my friends, colleagues and even my dad weigh in.

It all goes back to my initial premise - I don't know it all and this is okay.

I shared my dream this week with many people: my mother, my long-time best friend Bobbi, colleagues at the office, I even sent a copy of my proposal to my ex-husband who I know will "get" the project and have wonderful insights to share. Taking the risk of reaching and being open has rewards beyond what I could have imagined.

I'm excited about my future and amazed at how I'm growing and changing along the way.

Related Links Not to Miss:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler

Note: I made the vision board above after writing this blog entry in my journal. The little blonde represents me as a young girl and the blonde woman to the right represents me today. Notice I have my book and pen in hand and that smile shows just how much fun I am having. The fathers and daughters represent my relationship with my own dad. I feel very lucky to have my dad in my life. It is wonderful to have him be a part of my project.

Secret 7: Consulting with Guides

This week's chapter in "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin is titled, "Consulting with Guides." Just before I read this chapter I was thinking about this very topic and how I'm at a place in my journey where I think I will benefit from some guidance. I love it when this happens. I can't help but wonder am I being led on this journey or am I in synch? I like to think the latter.

I jumped out of my seat when I read the following:
"You know, most people are trying to figure out how to build a launch pad. You're in outer space. You just need to figure out how to use the controls."

Wow! I am in outer space. I know the skills that I love to use. I'm working on developing more. I just need a little help to know how to use those darn controls. Now that I'm in orbit what do I do?

This chapter has some great examples of guides. It was so helpful to read through this organized list and I love the challenge about designing my guidance options. I plan on spending the next week really working on my list.

I call my rock above, "Circles of Care." Each circle represents different groups where I find support. Let's take a closer look at those circles.

In the center is my inner guide. This is my intuition, my inner wise voice. I access this guide through meditation, journaling, quiet walks, solitude, and my morning retreats. As you look around you'll see some of my other circles of care. This exercise has been so helpful to see that I already have so many guides in my life. I think I will be looking for more experts and in the weeks to come I will be defining just what I need in an expert. This clarity of vision is really the key in making my dreams come true.

The chapter ends by encouraging each of us to see ourselves as guides for others. I've been told by many that I am a natural teacher. I've discovered that my blog and Soul Journal project have both been fantastic avenues to inspire and encourage others.

Recently I collected affirmations for a blog giveaway and made an affirmation poster for all of the participants to enjoy. As I put this poster out there I was dumbfounded by the response - so many women from around the world wrote to me to let me know just how powerful and helpful this poster is for them. One blog friend just sent me a photo of the poster hanging up in her home in Belgium. I call this transaction an inspiration spiral - one inspires another and the inspiration keeps going and going.

Look here for more inspiration:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group
Creative Everyday
Soul Journal Project
The Soul Journal Yahoo Board
Affirmation Poster - a free gift from me!

Secret 6: Conquering Saboteurs

"Conquering Saboteurs" now that is a powerful topic. This week on our exploration of "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" we take a look at those inner and outer saboteurs. You know the inner critics and nay-sayers. The journal pages on this post are some of my strategies for conquering my saboteurs.

1. Birds of a Feather - I surround myself with kindred spirits. This helps me to feel understood and connected. Blogland offers so many opportunities to meet others who will get you. I made friendship paper to make these birds. To read more about the friendship paper visit my Birds of a Feather Valentine party.

2. Look for Signs and Believe in Them - I think "Serendipity" is my middle name. I notice signs and connections ~ they tell me that I'm on the right path.

3. Affirmations - I write affirmations and collect them as one might collect stamps or coins. I'll take quotes and re-write them as positive, active, "I" statements. Reading them daily, writing them over and over again in my morning pages, saying them while looking in a mirror, are all ways of using the affirmations. Leaving affirmative statements for others is a way of sharing the love.

4. Laughter - My sense of humor will take the wind out of the sails of any saboteur ~ internal and external. Who doesn't want to have fun? When my inner critic speaks up I cut through it with laughter and I tell him not to take things so seriously.

5. Self Care - Not only do I need to get lots of sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, but how I talk to myself is  part of the care plan. When my inner critic speaks I try talking gently to him. I acknowledge his fears and reassure him with words of kindness. It is taking some practice to talk to myself this way. I'm learning how to be my own best friend, my own caretaker, my own trusted guide.

6. Compassion - The people who make it on my saboteur list are either family members who are afraid for me and hope for the best or  people who are creatively blocked. The lesson here is to understand that we don't have to take on other people's fears. Listening to their concerns with acknowledgment and kindness is the best approach.

7. Play Often - Finding time to play will fill the soul with happiness leaving little room for the critics.

8. Face It - Naming the fears and taking a real honest look at them is the first step. Taking gentle kind steps towards making change will lift the black fear clouds off.

9. Express Yourself - Journal or blog to get your ideas and feelings out. Try morning pages.

10. Quiet Time - I believe every person needs some solitude to reconnect with their inner self and wisdom voice. Solitude makes way for peace. Find those retreat moments in each day.

Related Links:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group
Creative Everyday