Refrain from the Identical, the book, is now available as a Kindle eBook…

For all of those Kindle readers out there, Refrain from the Identical: Insight and Inspiration for Creative Eclectics is now available for Kindle.

Organize your Creative Space

I’ve been on a quest to organize my creative space—the reclaimed art room now mine, once again, since my daughter moved out, once again. I wanted to rekindle my artistic desires, but my art room languished in clutter. So I set out to clean up the mess and embark on a redecorating adventure. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

Conquering Clutter

Clutter is a creative eclectic’s nemesis—a toothless dragon that guards our treasure-trove of art supplies. Granted, clutter is a bi-product of our scattered nature, but an enemy just the same. When we cannot clear a place to do a project, the frustration singes our resolve. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

My family grows…

I love my mother’s heart for her great-grandchildren. Here’s her latest post…precious!

The joy of seeing a new little person come into our family is sooo great!  Stephen is 2 1/2 and such an individual, and now here comes Skyler. He is precious, and we wonder what his personality will be like. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

The Daily Creative Challenge

“Behold I do something new.”

What if we did, said, or shared something creative every day? Creativity gives life, and we have a creative God who never stops imagining and sharing, so why can’t we do the same?

What if every morning we asked these questions, “Lord, what do you have for me to do today? Is there something creative I can make or share?”

READ THE ENTIRE POST…

The Muse of Memoir: Share your Story

Have you ever felt transported into a former situation that provoked painful memories? Yesterday I had coffee with my mother and her best friend, Lonnie—both creative women who bless others with their unending artistry, overflowing encouragement, and refreshing zest for life. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

Tenacity: The Power to Push Through

Tenacity: resolve, persistence, determination. I’ve been thinking a lot about tenacity lately:

• When I found myself covered in mud while digging out gravel and dirt to find a sprinkler valve leak (Hubby was visiting his family in Texas).
• When the printer I wanted (and needed) was on sale but out of stock at Best Buy, so I drove around town looking for another great deal.
• When I couldn’t find a place to copy my media kit that needs to accompany the books I’m sending to review editors (all of our printers are on the fritz and my Mac Pages file conflicted with Staple’s printers).
• When I finally found a place to print the media kit, and then noticed two missing words in the first line.

Tenacity: mulishness, doggedness, pigheadedness (Don’t you just love the animal references?) READ THE ENTIRE POST…

Refrain Press Release and Media Kit

On January 4th, CreateSpace distributed a press release for Refrain from the Identical: Insight and Inspiration for Creative Eclectics to almost 3,000 contacts. The professional media team from CreateSpace did an outstanding job. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

Enclosures

There are times when a writer cocoons—pulls silence over head and tucks chin into contemplation. She hides away on a post-Christmas day when others bustle about returning gifts. The hours seem endless as she meanders along lazy rivers of the mind, never leaving small spaces—a cozy bed, the nook of a couch, an office chair.

Enclosures

When I was a girl, my mother tried to train a wide-eyed filly. The horse snorted and pranced, pulled against the lead rope that restrained and forced her to walk in circles. Around and around the arena she danced, pawed the ground, and reared towards the sun. Mom loved, (yet I suspect feared) that filly for the horse would bolt with only the rustle of burnished leaves. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

New Year’s Resolutions Round II

Something about the New Year makes me want to change-up my life. Anything feels possible when the confetti starts to fly. So I’ve decided to post a second set of resolutions (in addition to my writing resolutions) to net those ideas that are fluttering around in my brain. Maybe they will spark a desire in you to add something new (or revive something old): READ THE ENTIRE POST…