Zines

  When preparing to teach a class, i generally make notes of what I plan to include in my journal, and may add to my set of prompt cards. A fan of things 'tiny,' I  was intrigued a couple of years ago when I happened on a call with the lovely Denise Daffara on working in little "zines" 

... but I had missed the instructions, lol! 

So after the circle, I looked for more info on making these little booklets, and was enchanted! 

Calendar and Zines in process

Who doesn't like tiny booklets? And with the central slit, these fold into a cover and several pages - perfect for a little collage session, class notes, or a planning booklet! 

Double Calendar spread, paint and collage

I made a handout that would fold into a zine, and brought this project to our next Red Thread Circle - For my own, I used a double spread from this large biodynamic calendar. I liked the black and white illustrations of candles and beeswax, so worked around including them, and some of the text. The small blue Zine was created from another calendar. 

Acrylic paint and collage

A piece of Junk Mail, a double calendar spread, or even piece of notebook paper is great for a small "class notes" booklet, which can be written in directly or painted and collaged. 

Here's a little "kid friendly zine" tutorial.

A Zine could also used for:

• A poetry booklet
• A mini art journal
• Class notes
• A process page - write what you want to compost on the 'inside,' paint over' then flip and fold to "grow some lilies"
• A booklet of symbols you use in your paintings
• Writing about your painting

During the Color of Woman teacher training, we create Vision Plan and Story books on a half sheet of watercolor paper as part of the quest. These are a lovely visual way of collating ideas for our work with IC, but generally in a larger format. Here's one side of mine from the course - it makes a lovely background for an altar.

Vision Plan Book

I enjoy the compact booklets for collection my class ideas, as another option. They are a great size to tuck into a Planning Pocket, and a page may provide inspiration for a Story Card!

Happy Paint Party Friday!
Do you have a favorite style of art journal or booklet? 

Visual Planning

Last spring, Shiloh and her biz coach Amy Ahlers offered Dancing Entrepreneur for both Color of Woman students and the general community. We created the folded Vision Plan books (one of the CoW assignments) plus a set of 16 cards to support moving forward with our plans. 

We connected with others in the class (a weekend workshop or 5 week class) and used the momentum of the class to bring ideas into action or products. I developed my virtual Red Thread Circles, and collaborations with other students and IC teachers.

Some of the posts that caught my eye were of Karen Dawn's Visual Planning system, and I joined her Beta Test group on crafting similar systems of our own! I love Karen's creative approach to planning! (Her blog includes some of these teachings!) 

Vision Plan Board

Mine is on a foam board from a vision board class I offered, and has two of the Dancing Entrepreneur action cards, a little vision board we created with Karen, and - pockets. My clothesline is a ribbon, and I just taped the ends to the back of the board using painter's tape! You can use nails to tack the lines directly on a wall - so many options!

Karen uses this 'clothesline' system for organizing ideas visually. She found that when her notes were tucked away in journals and files, they weren't as accessible, and often dropped off her radar. (So me!) You can clip cards directly to the line, or Viola! - make pockets to hold sets of cards with those ideas! (Who doesn't want to make pockets, lol!) 

Larger file folder size pockets can be tacked up, with in depth writings/images. You can clip labels to the front of the pockets, to keep organize. I also like making little vision plans in Zines - these could easily tuck into small pockets! 

Planning pockets

As I dream into new offerings, and projects on my plate, I'm using this system to keep organize my ideas and action steps.

Vision Plan Cards

 Many of us who identify as creative are challenged when it comes to the business side of things! And even zoning in on what we have to offer can be a challenge - so many ideas! So many possibilities!! 

Thoughout Color of Woman and the other Intentional Creativity® trainings, we are offered tips and tools to help fine tune our vision, and keep us on track. One of the recent offerings for both students and course graduates was Dancing Entrepreneur, which was offed as either a weekend course, or a deeper 5 week dive. 

Vision cards

I took the deeper dive, and enjoyed the depth of offerings, calls, and focus groups that emerged. Several of our teacher Shiloh's colleagues and advisors shared insights, and it was very rich.  

In addition to creating a folded Vision Plan Book, we created a deck of 16 card Dancing Entrepreneur deck, as action prompts for our next 'Dance Move.' We wrote short prompts or Dares on the back, and Shiloh suggested drawing one daily.

Vision Cards

I loved seeing the other students' work, and was especially drawn to a visual organization system Karen Dawn created, and to how she incorporated the cards. Karen has developed a visual planning wall that helps her stay organized and focused, and I'm excited to participate in her 6 week course. 

Our next assignment is to create a Vision Board for our own planning wall. I enjoyed Karen's video with tips on creating one. I've done and taught several over the years, it feels timely to do one focused on current energies! 

I'm thinking of creating some calendar pages for my wall, like I've done in journals. One of Karen's inspirations for her wall was realizing how many great ideas were tucked away in her journals, and "out of sight, out of mind!" (Does that happen to you, too?)

Calendar spread

One of the Creative Business planning projects we did in CoW was to paint our Biz-Muse - she's a whimsical muse, with a winged eye, for seeing behind the ordinary, and intentions collaged on strips of paper.

Biz-Muse

Next up - collage time!!  

I used an 11×15" sheet of watercolorpaper for the backing, and images and words from several magazines for the board. The mountains are The Three Sisters, which I grew up with in Central Oregon.

What's in your Basket?

 It's so fun to be collaborating with my Red Thread SiStars on virtual circles! Linda is graduate of both the Red Thread Guide and Color Of Woman, and competing the Cosmic Smashbook certification course! She's also a super craftswoman, and basket maker. 

Our inquiry for yesterday's circle was "What tools do we need in our baskets now?"  With choices on how to create our baskets using simple materials! Linda and I've both made pineneedle baskets, and brought one to share on our call! 

Pineneedle basket

Several women from Oregon joined our call, plus 3 from E Canada! As usual, the finished pieces varied in materials, shape, colors and contents. I tore strips from a privacy envelope, colored with Inktense pencils them wove the strips, and glued then to another envelope to make a pocket. One gal wove silk strips, others added feathers or bark ...

My basket, Red Thread and vision plan cards

Linda's basket and collage

Our next circles will be June 11 & 25th, at 1 PDT. 
The link will be on the MeetUp announcement. I look forward to more collaborations with my IC SiStars. 

Margie's basket

What tools do you need at this time?

Jana's basket - handpainted silk strips 

Enjoy creating - and happy Paint Party Friday!

Dancing Entrepreneurs

One of the things I love about our art community is the invitation for us each to claim our own "piece of Red Thread." In circles and trainings, each SiStar is encouraged to discover and claim her gifts, and empowered to share them with others. During this time of social distancing - ehm - Artist In Residence - many are offering prompts and mini classes.

This week, my IC SiStar Ally Markotich invited us to paint a series of Prayer Squares "A Three step spiritual practice to engage your innate creativity as your prayer."  Ally posts prompts Monday, Wednesday and Friday Details are available on her site. Materials are simple, paper and colored pencils, markers, watercolor, etc. 

Earth Day Medicine Basket

This weekend, students in Color of Woman teacher training and Intentional Creativity® Guild members met online to paint Vision Plan Book for these changing times. Shiloh writes that she does one of these graphic plans as preparation for each of her offerings. These folded booklets are done on watercolor paper, and are one of the Red Thread projects during the CoW Teacher Training. 

Vision Plan Book

In this month's Mothercolour Guild Call, we painted simple color wheels...I'm always intrigued that some of my favorite colors are easy to mix. It's fun to do a wheel using different colors for the primary positions, and the Mothercolour can be mixed combining all three basic colours used.

Hansa yellow, Quinacridone Magenta, Curelean Blue

Shimmer watercolor

This month's Red Tread women's circle will a Zoom call - on Resilience - check it out here!
What's on your creative agenda this weekend? 
Happy Paint Party Friday ❤ 

Cross pollination

As I spend time in my little Atelier, I'm embodying how each painting informs others in I'm working on! The reverse stencil technique and landscape background from Treesister came into play as I was brewing remedies in the apothecary yesterday. 

Apothecary - Good Medicine

As I looked at my journal notes from last year's Apothecary, In the Still Room, I realized several symbols had showed up in my CODEX painting as it evolves, the Hamsa hand, the 7 Pointed fairy star, and of course the harps in Apothecary and CODEX! 

Vision Plan Book

Part of our CODEX journey, and intentional Creativity, is to attend to these common elements and symbols, as we engage our intuition and inner knowing. 

CODEX - in process

What common elements do you find in your work? 
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Reflections and Insights

As summer winds down, I enjoy the slant of the sun, and hint of fall in the morning air.

Visionary Medicine Wheel

It's my both month, and I've enjoyed several adventurers: seeing Cindi Lauper and Sir Rod Stewart in concert - oh, that was fun!! A back to school BBQ with my daughter and Grands, and a beach trip with friends.

I've been enjoying the INSIGHT series with Maestra Shiloh Sophia, as we begin to

gather students for the 2019 Color of Woman training. This is an exciting time, as women respond to the call of their Muse, to go deeper and explore aspects of creativity and leadership. I am staring a new phase myself, as in enrolled in Jenafer Owen's program Giddy-Up training for online offerings - hold onto your hat!! 

And I've been exploring Instagram, a whole new platform!! It's been fun playing with my pictures for posts, mashing little montages (which don't always behave!) And meeting new virtual friends! I love the journal pages @quantummemoir does, and ... I'm @nadyakingartist ❤

We are each on a journey, and sometimes we "play small" or downplay our accomplishments, under the impression that is somehow better - were you ended told you were "to much," "too loud" "shouldn't brag" ... Most of us were at some point! Here's the thing, living small doesn't serve anyone! And we can be proof of what we're accomplished without denigrating anyone else, in fact, they may be inspired! 

If you journal, I invite you to take the time and record some of the things you accomplished this summer (or winter for our Southern mates) - a list, some sketches, however you choose! And then record some goals. A little vision flower is a fun way to connect with your values and goals.

• Recent achievements I'm pleased with
• I'm HåPpÎeSt when I take time to _________
• This fall/ spring I'd like to _______________
• My secret goal is _________
• Some of my values are __________ (family time, being true to my word, harmonious relationships)

HåPpÝ Paint Party Friday!

Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Award is an award given to bloggers by other bloggers. It is awarded to writers who are creative, inspiring and bring joy (sunshine!) Into the world! Dia's Creation Station was nominated by Wendy Fairy Art; thank you, Wendy! 

Once nominated, the blogger is requested to wrote a post which includes: thanking the person who nominated them with a link back to their blog, answer the 11 questions, nominate and notify 11 other bloggers who inspire and bring joy and Sunshine, write 11 new questions for them to answer, ...

Let's begin

How frequently do you lifeplan, and what does this look like for you?

Goodness, I don't know that I do! Well, more in little ways than BIG, ...I did a lovely vision planbook for color of Woman a couple of years ago, and am making another one soon. I make lists and plot out monthly overviews at times.... at others, fly by the seat of my pants! 

Vision plan book

How do you keep yourself on track and accountable when you need to?

Lists and those monthly goal pages... (I don't always stay on track, and tire of adulting!)

Where and when do you do most of your writing?

I've kept a journal since I was a pre-teen, and usually have a blank book around for that. I love composition books, and have several themed Smashbook and at journals going, ... I write about creativity and take voluminous notes in those. I write my blog posts on a kindle, and love to "swipe" rather than type! (Though auto correct has its way with my words!) I write anytime, journal most mornings, blog, often in the evening.

What or who truly inspires you the most? 

I'm inspired by Maestra Shiloh Sophia, she has truly influenced thousand of women within our Art community and beyond, and done much to bring Back our awareness of the divine feminine. Ram Dass is a wonderful spiritual way shower, and great man not overly impressed with himself! 
I love reading, all sorts of fantasy and fiction, especially with strong female characters, books on feng shui, my We'Moon calendar, channeled and other inspirational books. I'm entranced by Stars, rivers, mountains, the ocean and the natural beauty of our blue green planet. 

What advice would you give now to your fifteen year old self?

Don't take life too seriously, and don't sweat the small stuff! Heritage Is Important, and Indian sand painting and basket weaving are beautiful intentional practices! (Not a "waste of time" to study!) Keep creating, and keep smiling!

Where in the world feels like home to you?

Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, the mountains/Breitenbush Hot Springs. I'm playing for the forests of the West, in this season of fires, and especially my beloved Breitenbush. May the rains come soon! 

Where would you like to live, no limits? (not necessarily the above)

A cozy house on a lake with lots of Windows and boho style and a serene studio with great light for painting.... a houseboat! A tiny house, caravan, or mountain chalet, an octagon house (I loved in one for a year at Breitenbush) or wooden yurt.

What are your most important personal belongings and why? 

Good Medicine

Mmm, some precious books and journals, my harps, (3) and music, my paintings and art supplies, red Thread, my electronics (kindle), crystals, handthrown pottery cups and bowls, wooden spoons, Oracle decks. Essential oils, flower essences. I like pretty things, most essential are my "Tools" for balance and harmony. 

Do you think your physical "stuff" can hold you back?  - Why (or why not)?

Ah, living in this western society, I have way bunches of "more stuff" than I need, and there's a certain "weight" to knowing that! I'm better at weeding stuff out than actually getting it out, lol! And being a "boomer" a bunch of that is paper, other is inherited.... Like many, I am working on pruning, and I love the concepts of feng shui. But I'm a creative, and love having lots of supplies! 

Name one thing that if you did, would change your life for the better: 

Being More organized with my paper flow and those responsibilities, sigh. This is a subset of a lean toward procrastination in general.

Which of these was the hardest question to answer and why?

#2 ... what's "on track?"

Coming soon...

Part 2 - my nominees and the 11 questions ...

Ooo, and I want to invite YOU to the Nurturing Soul Spa my friend Heidi Sequoia Moondancer is offering! 

It's a FREE online event, from Sept 18-30, so sign up now! I'm one of two dozen guest teachers from around the globe, offering sessions in movement, breath, visualization, and other exercises to spark your creativity and recharge your spirit! 
We'll begin with a Red Thread Circle for quantum connection, led by Maestra Shiloh Sophia. My offering is Qigong and Qi Massage! I'd love you to join us! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

And thanks again for the Sunshine Award nomination, Wendy!