Since finishing up at my part time job back in January, I have been learning a lot about committing. 100% commitment in fact! I believe 100% commitment is the key to making my dreams a reality. In the past I've always been committed to following my heart, but never 100% committed. I've always had a backup plan – a part time job, and something to fall back on in case things don't work out. Letting go of that backup plan, choosing not to update my resume or to browse job search sites, and accepting by doing this that I really am limiting my options of ever returning to stable employment has been one of the hardest things to do.
My dream is not to become a 'famous' artist, or to exhibit ridiculously priced work in galleries all over the country. It's not about making lots of money, or being 'well known'. I create because I feel I have something unique to share through my artwork. It's about spreading sunshine, and I love that something I've created can bring a smile to a stranger, and brighten someone's day.
Letting go of the backup plan means that giving up is just simply not an option! Yes, I'm out of my comfort zone, sometimes I feel insecure because there is no structure, plan or safety net – just a dream. I'm still learning to let go of the fear that holds me back from time to time, but I've found that by committing 100% to this dream my creative energy is unstoppable and slowly but surely things seem to be falling into place!
I am so busy with orders at the moment that it's easy to feel confident about the path I have chosen. However, I know the quiet times will come so that's why I'm sharing this here – so that and in those moments I can remember that 100% commitment is what it takes!
Last night I went canvas shopping – I think this picture alone is evidence that I am 100% committed to my journey!
I've been a little excited with my camera this morning, so bear with me while you see the same objects from several different angles! Yesterday I came home from an afternoon jog to find a HUGE flower arrangement with a box of chocolates at the front door (4th year wedding anniversary, thank you Mr ♥).
But that wasn't all I found, there was also a special package from my dear Mother! I think I was as equally excited seeing this package as I was seeing the flowers and I had a moment where I didn't know what to look at first!
Remember this post? If you follow me on Instagram (deannamaree12), or Facebook you will have seen bits and pieces of these stool covers coming together. Well, here they are!
Aren't they gorgeous!? I am completely in love with them! My mum is one incredibly talented lady, she is very creative and one of those people that can do almost anything they put their mind to. I wish the sewing, knitting, crocheting genes were hereditary! When I visited last month she kindly introduced me to the crocheting hook, and I had a go at making these granny squares myself. My attempt didn't make it into the stool cover, and I'm not sure if I would ever have the patience to refine my crocheting skills – I tend to get bored doing the same thing over and over again, and I admire the patience my mum had to keep making all of these squares!
There's something so special about a gift that is handmade – I know I will treasure these covers forever, because my mum spent so much precious time creating them for me. I will always look at them and think of her, and remember how she spent every spare minute she had with a crochet hook in her hand. I will remember her trying to teach me to crochet, and the fits of laughter that were induced by my consistent attempts to pull the wool around the hook from the wrong side over and over. I'm glad we could laugh over my apparent lack of crocheting talent!
I'm still undecided about painting the actual stools, I know the colouring isn't quite right for our current house. But I do like them like they are, and I think my next house will be this lighter natural wooden look and they may just fit in perfectly then. But for now I get to make up reasons to walk past the kitchen bench every hour or so, because I am love with what I get to see!
Hello! Another beautiful, but very busy day here – just thought I'd show you what I've been up to. Tomorrow I'll be at the Cherry Blossom Markets, with lots of beautiful things for Mother's Day. Today I've been making gift boxes especially for Mum's, cleaning magnets, assembling my magnet display boards and getting everything together for an early start in the morning. I've also been working on some new prints – and have been experimenting with prints on canvas. I tried this a couple of years ago without much luck, but today's attempt was a lot more successful! I have a brilliant idea if I can get this to work well, and I can't wait to develop it further! Have a fantastic weekend, come and say hello if you're in Newcastle tomorrow!
I set off on the road trip home from Qld with a very heavily loaded car! It took my mum a good hour to fit everything in that she wanted me to take – there was no space to spare! I had a lot of fun unpacking my new 'treasures'. Vintage suitcases, lots of books – a vintage atlas, dictionary, gardening books, home decorating magazines, crochet rugs, and a huge box of homegrown organic vegetables. Completely worth 24 hours of driving don't you think?
