LIVING A CREATIVE LIFE
Most of my life I have been thinking about the future and getting tied up with the drama of living; constantly moving quickly from one obligation to another. This cycle ususally ends up with me feeling dried and hollow. I feel like someone has pushed a fast forward button. Then for some wonderful reason I stop, wake up and come back to living a creative life.
Each person has their own definition of living creatively. For me, I have to go back to the basic foundations that bring me peace of mind and spirit. This morning during a clear, crisp morning walking my dog Molly, I defined a list of my requirements for living creatively. They may of may not be important to you but these have repeatedly helped me.
1. See life like a baby. Babies notice their surroundings, take in the sights, movements, scents and touch. Children live in the moment. Babies do not worry about the dead past or feared future. If we as adults would put this process in spiritual terms, we might say: trust in a power greater than yourself; live in the moment; or breathe.
2. Remember that I am not the center of the universe! For me it means that I am not in control of most of my life experiences. I do control my attitude and actions. But much of my life experiences present themselves and it is up to me to make choices. This may sound trite but the magic of life occurs when I least expect it. Some one call me, I will notice a color, bird or sunset that is inspirational. Whatever happens, it brings me back to the present and I remember that I am just one person on this earth.
3. Play! Enough said.
4. Practice gratitude with your heart.
5. See the sacred in others. For me it is difficult to give my full attention to everyone that I meet of talk with. I can hold a conversation with myself as I do the dishes and arrange a meeting on the phone. When this happens, I am not living creatively! The best path is to slow down and say in the moment, giving my full attention to the other person. Only then I can appreciate the other person.
6. Go slowly. When I hurry or feel pressure, I loose myself in future worries which erodes the present experience.
7. Make a list and accomplish only 1/3 rd. I have a habit of expecting too much from myself thinking that I can finish more tasks than I can. This is my crazy making cycle. So I delete the things on my list that are a distraction from my purpose. I can do them another time or day. I finish the most urgent tasks- like framing, calling gallery owners, etc. Then I relax and do what I can accomplish with joy.
8. Rest. My days are more creative when I rest and daydream. I try to lay down for 30 minutes each day to rejoice myself. It is good for my health and improves my attitude. Resting is when I create new artwork in my iminagion. I refocus my priorities.
Problably I am forgetting something and if so I will add it later. Living slowly, in the moment is really living. Living creatively is healing, healthful and renewing the fire of creativity that nourishes us and those we love.
These are important for me to remember. How do you live creatively?

CREATIVE CYCLE
In the autumn Door County is beautiful. The air smells fresh and cool. The flowers and grasses are in decline. The maples are turning red. The birch and poplar leaves russel. Summer declines, autum begins and then winter comes.
Changing of the season calls to mind the creative cycle. We live and create in a cycle of: life, decline, death, rebirth and life. Just a clarification; death is not really a death but a stage where a person feels stagnet or dry.
Here is an example of the creative cycle in my current artwork. As an artist I have finished a series of summer flowers with bright colors and abstract design. Now I am beginning a house series. I am drawn to houses because they are a Jungian symbol of the psychic. My houses have symbols inbeded in them and are in varied shapes. Some windows are open, some contain objects and some are closed. Houses are similar to the daily changes of our moods or feelings. They unique and different; just like we are. Tomorrow I will airbrush color into the drying cotton/abaca paper. I think oranges would be nice. Once the paper houses dry, I will finish adding color with my handmade acrylics, seal the surface and frame them.
Yesterday was my birthday. I am grateful for each year that I live. I am so lucky to have wonderful friends, artist friends, a great husband, a supportive daughter and family- and of course my dog, Molly. Life is not a bed of roses but it is pretty darn good.
I have a need to let go of the things in our home that we are not using. So I cleaned out drawers and closets! Gave it away! Now I am selling my art that has been in my collection. It feels right. Of course letting go of things represents the death stage or end of a life cycle. Our creative and life cycle goes: life, decline, death, rebirth and life. I feel that there is a new beginning- of what, I do not know. It is important to let go before new life can begin.
Where are you in your creative life cycle?

Welcome to Wild Onions Studio. I am a handmade paper artist and counselor with 25 years of experience. I believe that art heals. Art offers possiblilities for self-expression and is a venue for all of us to know more about our inner thoughts and feelings.
During the Labor Day weekend my studio is open for private showings. Wild Onions Studio is located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin in beautiful Door County. Our address is 4859 Bay Shore Drive and the phone number is (920) 743-5108. My web site address is http://www.wildonionsstudio.com
This weekend I will be casting two large pieces of wall artwork. Both reflect the spirit of freedom and support. The first piece is a kite with in lays of women flying. The second piece will be prototypes of people supporting one another. My task to day is to make the pulp form cotton and abaca fibers in a vat. I will make the paper useing a 16th century dip method and cast the forms on a very large drying board. The paper will be wet and fragile. After sponging most of the water from the wet paper, I will airbrush the pieces with my handmade watercolor. Then it will take several days for the artwork to dry. Then I will paint the pieces with handmade acrylics. After that dries then I will seal and mount the final artwork.
If you want to reply, please send your messages to: wildonions@doorpi.net
Best wishes for a good weekend, Carol