Be the light ...

“Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one, the other disappears.

 Marianne Williamson

I have posted this collage on my P.O.P. site (society6 and Redbubble) and I will donate the entirety of my portion of the sale of this print, 'be the light ... ' to UNICEF to help the children in the Ukraine.  

print on society 6:

https://society6.com/product/be-the-light6628744_print?sku=s6-23296111p4a1v45

Print on redbubble: 

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/be-the-light-by-Virginiacreate/103391524.1G4ZT?asc=u

Click here to go directly to UNICEF's site to donate directly:

www.unicefusa.org

When I sat down yesterday to create this month's collage for my #virginiacreates monthly calendar - this collage came quite clearly to me.  I didn't struggle with it or question it, which usually happens with most of my work.  But this piece seemed to flow. 

 I was listening to an interview with the lovely and talented Anne Lamott (see link below) and she was speaking about the importance of being the light - especially for creatives - and so I named this collage, 'be the light ...'  However as I was putting together my March calendar page I started seeing that this piece speaks to the heart-breaking situation in the Ukraine.  

As I do with many of my collages I cut shapes from  pages of different foreign text.  I am always picking up foreign books when I see them!! Unknowingly I used pages from one of my book that is in a Slavic language.  This particular book seems to be about Walt Disney and is in some East Slavic language though I am not sure which language. I love to use text in my work and especially text using different alphabets.  I find lettering/text/language so inspiring and beautiful of many levels.  

 

Also when I first sat down to make this collage I felt the need to stamp a peace sign, something that I don't always do, but yesterday it felt important.

I mention all this because I really wasn't consciously thinking about the Ukraine crisis, but as I look at the finished collage I feel like it speaks to the crisis, peace & light with a slavic text sprinkled around.  And this is an idea that Anne Lamott talks about, that we, as creatives, need to be open so that we are receptors of the world and that it what feeds our work.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott - 2007:

Best-selling author Anne Lamott returns to San Diego with more hilarious tales of her life as a mother, daughter and writer who is drawn to the struggles of imperfect characters. The humor of host Dean Nelson puts the normally reclusive Lamott at ease and the two keep the audience laughing throughout this edition of the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [4/2007] [Show ID: 12220]

https://youtu.be/PhP5GmybvPM

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remember the importance of unplugging!!

Almost everything will work again 

if you unplug it for a few minutes, 

including you.

Anne Lamott

and with these wise words from Anne Lamott, I am planning 

to go off the grid and unplug for a few days.

Enjoy & peace!!

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Day 3: bird by bird

'bird by bird' acrylic on wood

Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

This is the quote that has been bubbling up to the surface since I deposited you in Newark.  This quote/concept is a main touchstone for me, "bird by bird", the only way to do anything.

And I believe I need to share this quote today for both you and me!!!

Here you are starting this grand new adventure, so much to see, to learn, to do, to join and to experience and that can be so overwhelming!!! As well as being responsible for your self care, laundry, meals and time management ... Again overwhelming!!!! 

And for me, I need to tackle my long 'to-do' list that I have ignored while helping to get you to Delaware!!, happily ignored, mind you!!!  Also, I find myself in a whirl of confusion about how to parcel all the thoughts and desires I want to share with you in this project?!? so much to say ... 

In fact, at this time of the year, most people are struggling with the transition from a summer schedule to a more rigid schedule, so this is a good quote for all.  

Remember to take EVERYTHING one bird at a time! 
If you are feeling overwhelmed by a task, break it down into more manageable pieces.  If those pieces are still overwhelming, break each piece down into smaller pieces.  
Do it conscientiously, deliberately, not just think in your mind that you have broken it down (I speak from experience). 

Make a list of the smaller steps, give yourself a reward when you have finished a certain number of smaller steps, try to focus on the task at hand and not think about the larger project.   
This might sounds cliche but it does work.  
It takes practice, I know that from experience, and it is good to remind yourself daily, again I speak from experience, but it is a tried and true approach which I wanted to share with you today.

ALSO!!! you must read Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird!!! I find myself reading it at least once a year!!! 

Love ya, Mom 

Today remember the importance of being messy!!! X

paintchip art 2/100

“Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived...Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation... Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. What people somehow forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here.” 

― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

This morning as I was pondering what to post for today's inspiration and I thought of Anne Lamott's father's wonderful advice to his son who was freaking out at the kitchen table.  She tells the story of her father's reminder to approach all things, especially overwhelming things, with a 'one thing at a time' approach; bird by bird. Needless to say, I am facing overwhelming to-do lists that have me quaking in the corners of my apartment :)

But as happens many times with my dailydress inspiration postings, as I was searching for the 'bird by bird' reference, I found this other quote by Anne Lamott and it was the quote I REALLY needed to hear today.  The idea that life is messy and messiness is a part of living (you see I am messy, but I get a lot of heat for my messes) 

So today let's celebrate our messes as they help us to discover the who and why of us!!! 

And for good measure, here is the reference to the 'bird by bird' method ...

"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. [It] was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said. 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'"

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may this dress bring us what we long for . . . .

"Radical self-care is what 

we've been longing for, 

desperate for, 

our entire lives ~

friendship with 

our own hearts."  
Anne Lamott

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may this dress remind you, bird by bird . . . .

Today I need to remember the wise words from Anne Lamott's father

 ~ 'bird by bird'.

As it happens I am prepping for 

2 shows opening in the next 7 days!! 

'Flirt",  the inaugural group show @ the Dedham Mother Brook Art Center & 

'the daily dress series' @ Baldwin Hill Art, Natick.

I am super excited about both shows, 

however this friday has arrived with a laundry list of 

things to do a mile long - 

so bird by bird . . .  

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table, close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”

from Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

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May this dress help you stay present (and don't panic:) ~

note to self:

this dailydress journal entry is inspired by one of
my favorite books/ideas:
'bird by bird' by Anne Lamott.
When everything seems overwhelming the best way
not to panic is ~ bird by bird, one thing at a time ~

"you can destroy your now

by worrying 

about tomorrow"

Janis Joplin