When nothing goes right, go left.

I have been feeling out of sorts and dead tired this last week. I keep working myself up into a frenzy about all the stuff I have/want to do so that I am too strung out to get anything done. I then proceed to sleep for 10-24hrs and wake up feeling guilty for wasting so much time sleeping.  One would think that in all my 37 years I would have learned better by now, but one would be incorrect.

This phrase has been with me for years as I struggle to keep things in balance. For those of you who know the song, I know is it kind of cheese ball but it helps to sing it. If you are unfamiliar with the song, take a minute and find it on you tube. It is a lovely old gospely song that is fun to sing at the top of your lungs in your car or when cleaning the house.

So that is what I am trying to do now. Find balance one day at a time.



My Etsy shop is no longer barren. Come check out the fun new bracelets that I made. I want to make a few more by the end of May. I have been ordering beads like crazy and go to Joann's and Michaels every week trolling for new stuff. Here is the link to my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RenegadeLily


I still want to start making more of my own beads too. I took some books out of the library on polymer clay and read them at night before bed. Sometimes it is hard going to sleep because I want to try all the cool things they have talked about in the books. My two favorite so far are:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7476977-the-complete-book-of-polymer-clay

and

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17659891-the-polymer-clay-artist-s-guide

They are very practical and explain techniques in a step by step manner. Lots of pictures for the visual leaner. And some beautiful inspirational project photos too.

I also started reading this book:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18210768-the-lost-art-of-dress?from_search=true

It is a history of what the author calls the "dress doctors" of America. What fascinates me is how these women used the principles of art and applied it to dress. I am in the section where she discusses proportion and color balance. I have been reading about these same rules or guidelines in other books about color and painting. I never really had a vocabulary for describing what I find appealing about certain clothes or styles that I have worn, but these ladies sure do. I am now analyzing all my clothes to see if they would approve.

Last few things to wrap up this post.

It has been sunny and nice here for a couple of days and my sister as been tirelessly working on fixing up the backyard/pool area. It is beginning to look so nice. I'll post pics when it is all done. It will be fantastic to sit out there relaxing after a swim on those hot summer days. I tell you this because I made her take a picture of me outside with this new purse she got me from her homeschooling convention.

You can kind of see the flowers around me. I love this new bag. It is handmade by someone in Swaziland. Her first name is Lindwe. You can go to the website and find out about the person who made your bag. How cool is that? Here is the website. http://timbalicrafts.org It obvious a women made it because it has good deep pockets on the inside and outside. I recommend checking them out.

While I was outside waiting for her to be ready to take the picture, I happened to look down at the new hose she bought.

It has ladybugs on it! I have never seen something so picking cute. It totally made me get out of my crabby mood.

I think I am going to call it quits for this week. I think I have covered all that is happening in Lily land. Have a good week and remember one day at a time.

Coming to terms with calling myself an artist

Two weeks ago, I stopped at the gallery in the mall that displays the beautiful glass things I posted about earlier. I wanted to find out who were the artists who made the ones in the window. I told the women I had posted them on my blog and wanted to give credit to the artists. (I can't find the little piece of paper I wrote the info down on. As soon as I do, I'll update the earlier post.) She asked what kind of blog I had. I had to stop for a moment and think about how to respond. I ended up saying this.

My blog is about me working through my own creativity and my exploration of different mediums. It also is about what inspires me and pushes me further.

This sounded good. This sounded like I know what I am doing. I felt like a fraud saying it. I wanted it to be true. I left the gallery in a hurry lest she ask me for a card. She would find out I am not really that cool and am just a big fake.

The next day at work I had a great moment. An older lady came up to the counter looking for a book called Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187633.Art_and_Fear

We started talking about creativity and art. I asked her if she had ever read The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. One of my all time favorite books about how to live.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254799.The_Creative_Habit?ac=1

She then asked me if I was an artist. I sort of made a babbling humming noise until I finally sucked in a breath and released a yes. She was so funny. She said there you go. You just have to admit it to yourself and move on. They way she said it reminded me of the way people talk about addictions. The first step to getting help is to admit you have a problem. Hello my name is Danielle and I am an artist. 

Maybe this way of thinking actually got through to me. At least it helped me realize that being an artist or a creative person isn't some sort of pretense. It is a part of me. So now I am going to be owning it. I am getting much better talking myself up to people when they ask about my jewelry and other things.

When in doubt, consult Julie Andrews.

Otherwise I am just trying to make some more bracelets. The lady who bought all my other ones might want some more. And my Etsy shop is still barren. I asked for some time off next week and hope to get a lot done on those days. I have been working my day job more than usual for the past couple months. It is hard to get any crafting done.

Here is a sneak peek at what I am working on now.

Have a good week. And thanks again for stopping by. Comments are always appreciated. Let me know what you think.

Day late.

Hi all. Yesterday was a yucky day for me so I am just getting to posting now.

I may not have been feeling physically well, but it was a good day for Renegade Lily. My thoughtful sister passed around my cards to the people in her office. One of the ladies checked my stuff out on Etsy and said she wanted to buy what ever I had. This is awesome and amazing and many other adjectives.

Now my little shop is barren. I am going to try to furiously make up some new things.  Some of the bracelets that were sold I don't even have a picture of because I never got around to taking them. Note to self: even if they are poorly lit, take pictures as soon as something is done.

I had this long post started about being an artist and all this other stuff, but it seemed more important to share the news of my big sale. I will finish it and share it on Saturday. I will have gone to the career counselor person too. I am interested to hear what she says and if there is any hope for me to become self-sustaining again. Maybe I'll have something to share about that too.

A little eye candy to leave you with. It is a Chihuly instillation at the hospital where my doctor has his office.

I had walked past it on my way to get a blood test at the lab. It didn't register until I was leaving. I stopped and stared at it for a while. What an amazing sight to see in a place most people don't really like to go. I thought about being a patient here and being uplifted by this beauty. I was uplifted in a way only unexpected beauty makes me.

See you all later.