musings on today

I have to say am most excited by the expression ideaporn and how totally turned on (ideawise) I got about the talk of technology and humanity of virtual worlds spilling over into reality and technology's interpretation of that reality and how it all inter effects everything.  The way we are.  And how artists were interpreting that. by making real world pixellated sculptures or the finger paintings that mimic the finger marks we make to do something specific on an ipad.  Cool and interesting stuff. Also the whole talk and take on futurology v nostalgia and the oldification of stuff v the modernisation of stuff and the genuine hankering after the new, real and authentic creative stuff that comes at the forefront of now.  The blank page stuff.  the stuff that comes out of imagination and is creatively new, not some rehashing of the past in some hackneyed way.  On the journey (in virtual idea land) I discovered some music I like (apparently already old and on the way to being establishment fodder   - but seriously who cares if you like it) and finally up against Bill Drummond.  WHen I say up against him.  He is merely mentioned in a blog article. But I am astounded by how he features in my key interested and cultural things and has done since he was involved with Echo and the Bunnymen, and how he loved Iceland.  And the KLF (1987 What the F**K's going On) blew my mind, back in, er 1987.  I wonder if it is all coming full circle. Or about to spiral off again.  Who knows.  But its exciting to discover things you find truly fascinating.  Discussions and musings on very interesting, to me stuff.

Yesterday I had a long chat with my old friend M (with whom I loved Echo and the Bunnymen AND the KLF) and it was good to chat to an old friend who understands all sides of me. Many sides anyway.  We are going to collaborate on making 2012 a year in which we take the income up several notches and being valuable.  I have set my figure at £36,000.  Its not massive in terms of millionaires and so on.  But it would make me very very happy to hit that figure.  In a way, its a figure that would mean that I could look after our family.  If need be.  Not that I want to be the only one bringing in the bacon.  But for mine own sense of worth, the idea that I am capable of that, means something to me.

Of course I really currently have no real idea of how I can do it.  But that is my marker.  And lets just see.

A key component of this, is, getting uncomfortable.  OR feeling it.  Getting used to going outside the comfort zone.  It means change and change makes you feel weird.  It might feel wrong. In fact without feeling 'wrong' you aren't actually stretching or growing any.  So wish me luck and courage my friends!

Another key component is building my community.  I have enlisted M into my inner circle on this.  And I shall be documenting it here too.  Me being uncomfortable.  Hmm should be interesting reading huh.

I like it as, in my Yoga Teacher Training, my teacher told me that you know you are getting on in your practice, not by how bendy you are, or how good at Asana you are, but in how well you can sit in uncertainty.  Which fits the whole out of the comfort zone sort of life.

SO to kick start my anti comfort regime.  I got out of bed early.  I did my Yoga practice this morning.  I got an hour in before anyone else surfaced.  Am pretty chuffed with myself for that small effort.  

stretch might thus be my word of the year.  Stretch up and out and go beyond.   Stretch and Flourish.  Bring it!

off the cuff

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.  I have to remind myself of that sometimes, because there is so much seemingly almost within reach in this world. 

But don't let that stop you dreaming big.  Because its fun and you never ever know for sure when a dream might come true.

Today I am dreaming of attending Flora Bowley's workshop in Bali.  Half painting, half yoga.  Ah, bliss indeed.  A week, on the other side of the world.  With my son, oh maybe he could come with me.... with my new job, with my finances, with....ah.  Life its possibilities, its dreams and its fantasies....

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are...... bring it back. There is still so much I can do.

I have had several nudges this week toward the end of  - when am I going to get painting again.  Its rising very much like a sea of urges within me.  Admin seems to take my time. Nonsense admin. 

I had a marvellous chat with my old friend M (I did a practice session of People Who Do Producitivity on her about 2 months ago) and she is proper flying.  Am so pleased.  So many things are starting to blossom, have been undertaken, are happening.  From getting a raise, to becoming a proper freelancer, to volunteering at her youngest daughter's school, to building an extension to her home.  All progressing.

SO.  Do any of you wish for more progress in your lives? More headspace? More balance?  It works this stuff it really does!

And I just so would like to paint in Bali and do Yoga..... ahhhhhhhh. 

Aside from that.  Creativity and Drawing is fascinating me.  Have been put in touch with this website, which I havent' even really had time to delve into yet.  But its a world of interest to me. 

thinking about future dreams

I am currently re visiting Amelia's Journal Your Dreams week long workshop... and having read some of my old old dream posts.  I am thinking about some future dreams.  Dreams and Mondo Beyondo esque wishes!

I am still dreaming of a big kitchen table and lots of likeminded friends.  All sociable and bright and fun folk.....

I am going to add my dream camper van.... its not just a camper van (though one of those would be very cool) but its morphed into a sort of converted horsebox or hi top lorry sort of thing.  Its like this.... (hope to drag in a photo I have on pinterest here) its painted mat black and it has wooden lining and a wood stove.  Its livable in, but its also a sort of roaming studio.  Its very cool indeed.

For a nearby and achievable dream - I have a fabulous fabulous life affirming soul feeding weekend in Yorkshire for the Do What You Love retreat.  And I learn to paint really big.  Its like a new departure for me and it just lifts off into the stratosphere in a thoroughly brilliant way!

I get on this years Yoga Teacher Training, and that too, is like a fir lit within me and is totally inspiring and life changing in a beautiful and good way.

For some further away lovely dreams I create and set up a creative retreat of my own.  I set it up, build it and people come and its just GREAT.  Its got some sort of theme, like making your own wedding decorations... for hen parties.... or the other one I would love to set up is just like for creative UK bloggers.... that would so cool.  We could all share our skills and teach each other.  And just hang out and talk and deepen friendships! *puts dreaming cap on* xxx

Its Mad March goal setting time folks

I wish I hadn't deleted all my old posts...... however, there was a time when this blog was all about GETTING STUFF DONE.  It still is.  Its still about writing down my dreams and goals and tracking my progress towards them.  My old first ever post was all just the dream life thing.  I seem to remember it was about having a big kitchen table and lots of friends dropping by, of eating well and doing art and yoga everyday.  I guess this still pretty much sums up my dream life.  I will add in having my own studio (ooh one for Art and one for Yoga, get me!) and throw in some travel.... yes please.  And I have upped the ante with the campervan to being a really beautiful converted horse box... all dark wood and a wood burner!  My travelling studio!  I have been sitting here in the Blue Dog Gallery today dreaming of my alter ego.  She is called Dolly Chestnutt and to a large extent, as perhaps all alter egos are, she is pretty much all I want to be.  Or even all I am....  at least in my dreams.    I am thinking that she might start a blog.... and be the name of my new business.  She could be the wedding coordinator who supplies vintage bunting to English Country weddings.  And who creates totemic iconic narrative portraits using collage, story telling and drawing and painting.  Oh and she definately creates vast colourful painterly canvases that sell for thousands in international galleries! Dolly definately has one of those cool converted horse boxes as a mobile home and mobile studio! 

So its March, like tomorrow.  And I do like a little bit of dream and goal setting.

March 
- create new dream journal pages -  I have an idea of a 3-d set piece or three.  I am looking forward to joining in with Amelia's Journal Your Dreams again this week.  I like that its just a week too.  I can get very enthusiastic about online things then if I miss out a bit somewhere in the middle I can lose my way and forget about the last bits....  But in a way I will be experimenting and dream setting at the same time.  Woohoo.
- yoga at least 2 times a week
- green smoothie every day
- eat something raw everyday
- study my yoga books a little every day if I can.... before I go to sleep I think is a good time.
- track spending / switch my ISA account / count up my savings jars stuff and BANK them.  pay Hanover Centre for playgroup room hire. 

Theme dreamsetting..... as narrative portrait.... hmmmm.....

Things I am looking forward to in March
My London Girlies are coming to visit on 19th March.  Woo hoo! I am so happy.  I so regret missing going to the girly lunch get together.  Its a lesson I have learnt, if possible, do not cut your nose off to spite anything.  Old friends are so valuable, do not miss out on spending time with them.

New friends are very cool too, though.  Part of my dream setting has to be this seeking of supportive community.  And as part of this I am also VERY MUCH looking forward to the UK bloggers meet up on the 26th.  I have already met up with Kat from This Year I.... and that was just great!  It was so easy chatting to her, I had such a lovely day.  (Kat, I did take some pictures but have lost the lead to upload them to my computer..... I loved reading your post and am so glad you loved Brighton!) I am not sure who is coming, but Kat is, and so is Holly of Shopaholly (the illustrious and dynamic organiser of the event, GO Holly!), I believe Laura from Move to Portugal is coming (hope so) but am sad already that Caroline from What's Happening at My House cannot make it (double booked? you are too popular!) And Rachel of Go Placidly too (hurrah!) And someone called Amy whose blog I need to look up....  Very exciting, so really looking forward to that, ladies

Bjorn Again, next monday!  Hurrah some high campery and ABBA singalonga.  Its my Christmas present from Hub.  Gotta love him for that! 

I am also being a nanny for 2 weeks.  Which I am somewhat dreading slightly.... the wee chap, K is gorgeous, but looking after him and Bub at the same time?  eek. And back to nappies with him (he's just 2) And he's a vegetarian and a prolific fruit eater.......  I do prefer sitting in the gallery and blogging I must say.  Oh am sure it will be fine.

Well.  Better stop now!  Off to dream some more!

Journalling Dreams

I just want to say that I am thinking about re doing Amelia's Journal Your Dreams E Workshop again.  Its Pay what you can (suggested £25 donation) so its so accessible.  Totally loved it.  And if you are wavering on the edge of thinking about it, GO AHEAD dive in!

moving it on....forward planning

I have been thinking about what the next steps are.  I have been thinking about my dreams and plans being as how I have been doing Amelia's Journal Your Dreams ecourse.  I am half way through producing some art work journal pages for it.  And its nice to be honing the Dream thing again further on from Mondo Beyondo.  I know I am not the only one who believes that by actively visualising and documenting dreams that you get closer to achieving them.  Hub and I had a 'Next Level' meeting.  Hub likes to name all our plans (e.g. Project Downstairs, ParticiPants, Team Go et al!!) It was majorly good to sit down and to discuss objectives with him.  We have a list of things to do by next Sunday.  Mine are:
1. I have done at least one drawing of H and O (a commission)
2. I have business cards done for my portraiture work (and facepainting)
3. I have bought some painters overalls and painted the wall in the sitting room
4. I have started on the xmas present list (and we have decided on the exact contents of the xmas hampers we are creating)

Me personally.  Because I love a list and there is a LOT of the week to go.
1. I have changed the bank account to lower the monthly fees appropriately
2. I have got the paperwork in order to swap the ISA to a better rate of interest.
3. I have done 5 mins of Yoga each day
4. I have done more work on my Journal my Dreams pages
5. kept a track of spending on food and personally
6. making space for MAGIC to HAPPEN by not eating sugar and spending 5 minutes a day on my own to 'meditate'.  And getting rid of some clutter.  At least one bit. 

This whole process has started me thinking of long term dreams again.  Like I have been thinking a lot about what gifts I want to give my son.  Not as in Christmas presents.  But things like, The Ability to Cook well.  Speaking a foreign language.  That sort of thing.  There are so many things you have to teach your children  -just so that they can survive well in the world.  How do you teach creative thinking, for example. How? exactly? I would love to give him that gift.  And to be able to budget and manage his own accounts.  And confidence.  I want him to have confidence, internal self confidence.... And to see MAGIC in the world.  To see its beauty. 

And then for my own dreams
A Studio. 
Go to ARt SChool
teach art (outside of the box)

dream the good dream

when I am 60.
I want to be
fit and healthy.
lively and alive.
supple and strong.
an artist
a community builder / part of a community
surrounded by friends and family and colleagues - my glorious tribe
financially secure
owner / renter of an art studio
possessor of a large kitchen table that hosts lots of lovely friends and interesting aquaintances
an expert at something
passionate about life
loved
loving
confidant
cultured

Ok that's good for now.....

I dunno. Perhaps this space really doesn't lend itself to being so very practical. I preferred the open hearted reaching and questing that it had become. And all the pictures and that. BUt you know, its all circular. It goes around and it comes around again, but different and further up and further along. Sometimes I feel I am wandering too far from my dreams, sometimes I feel I am losing touch with the ground and reality, but it just comes around again. I feel the stirrings of dreams and a real tangible quality to them. THings are changing. I can feel it. My 2 best friends contacted me this week. Both want to come and visit. I am making interesting life choices. And art is not disappearing.

here comes life. here we go again. wooo hoooo!