My Truth Doesn't Matter

One more issue. I've spent my lifetime trying to please other people, at the expense of my own happiness. Most of the time I didn't even know I was betraying myself - it just felt good to get my jollies this way - depending on the good graces from others - needy for their positive feedback - unsure of my own instincts.

But we do these things to elicit love from others. And most of us learned this behavior way back in our childhoods.

So if you can learn it - you can UNlearn it. Easier said than done - but little by little, I am chiseling away at the adult defensive exterior and giving Anne what she really wants. So rather than pushing away - I can turn my attention to the things I want, which may or may not be a yes or a no to someone else - it's just my own Truth.

No one can argue against the truth and if it's yours, then poof - make it so.

Yes. No. Maybe. Another time. Not right now. We will see. I will know. Let me think about it.
All these statements are now possible if I ask myself what I really want.

The answer is always inside me. I am learning to listen for it.

Scallops

SO I've been pretty enchanted with scallop patterns for a while now. It wasn't until a couple days ago I actually sat down with my graph paper to plot one out. I'd love to knit a long, thin tubular scarf about 5 inches wide and really long. Maybe teal lines against a creme background and red dots now and then. I think it'd be yummy.

And by the way - this is the first pattern graph I've invented and it's tough! I redrew this a few times before I got the symmetry to work and for the scallops to look like scallops instead of diamonds. Well worth the effort for this little triumph. :)

Need To Be Right

This is one I've been working on - an issue that blocks me from growing. Not needing to be right sort of redefines what being "wrong" means. Being wrong, or making a mistake is an opportunity. For change. No one's fucked up. No one's "done it again." No one fails. If you see those challenging and scary "errors", the one's that make us feel bad, the one's that make us worry about being labeled stupid, difficult, wrong, in trouble - as nudges in a different direction, then they're not so terrifying and are easier to bear.

Think of the child inside you - and telling that child they're a fuck-up. Could you really do that? Point to a little kid and be that cruel? So why do that to yourself? Or an event? Or another person? If I'm OK with my nudges, then I'm more okay with those that other people experience. And then, POOF, I'm more tolerant. And I've just nipped in the bud Headache # 23, 746.

Suddenly, I'm allowing love to touch me. And all those nudges really are love. And now I'm more loving.

Wow.

Don't be embarrassed by your "mistakes." It's your own movement. Everything is a gift.

Painted Pattern Book

Now that I've returned to painting, the books and materials used to create them have shifted into a new direction. Yay, change! I've started painting my own patterns on solid washi paper using acrylics. SO much fun. I lay a big roll out on the table and dot, slash and highlight away. Once dry, they get incorporated back into my paper stash and are used when I'm moved, usually paring with something delish and imported.

I've got three different, yet related, hand painted patterns in this book and box set. Y U M.

Anton

Here's a portrait I did of Anton as a class demo during Production at PC. Such fun! Love you little bunny.

Below are a few I've done over the past coupla years....

New Save the Date

So I've got a new client who echoed a recent client's sentiments of "more flourish." I gotta say, things are moving closer and closer to fun and crazy with every job I take. Makes me really glad I made the decision to do what I love and love what I do.

See? It all works out. :)

Above is the final artwork, first sketched (see below) and then traced with the pen tool in Illustrator. The keystroked font is called Engraver's Gothic. LOVE the combo.

I did this for a fellow designer who will have this made into a rubber stamp and she'll hit some of the fruit/leaves with dabs of watercolor. FUN!

Sip Into Spring Invite

Here's the final invite for Sip Into Spring. SO much fun to do.

FML Hankie

This was a gift I finished last night for a friend with the same wicked sense of humor I have. FML in beautiful script says it all. :)

Portrait of Ubi

This is Tina's dalmation Ubi, who has just passed.
Happy Birthday Tina. I love you!

A Little Grace Movie

Goodnight Moon by Anton

My sweet boy, Anton - 3.5 years old - reciting one of his favorite books. My sweet husband made this video.

Springtime Calligraphy

Sketched in pencil, drawn in Illustrator.
Loved on screen. Printed on paper.
Fin!

Spring Calligraphy

Working on a Spring event and addressing envelopes today. Created a variegated effect with greens and teals on creamy white envelopes. SUCH fun. My Petal Pod is hard at work. :)

Welcome to Flow

Today is my 42nd birthday and man his this year been amazing so far. My errand list for yesterday was a list of four items:
1. Kai Lin Art Gallery
2. Binders
3. Bobbe Gillis Gallery
4. Bank

Did you see that? Art and money. Two forms of energy that are now trading frequently and fairly. I am learning how to balance it all, ask for what I want, create with flow, bend in the wind more easily without losing my footing. It's a me I've just met. The way over your fears is to dance with them. And I do mean dance.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me virtual kisses today. I love you all!

Mom's taking me shoe shopping today. I am smiling.

~Anne

Grace: Atlanta Food & Wine Month Kick-Off Party

These three beautiful models stood in the window display during this event and MAN was it cool to see them dancing with flourish. Took some fun pictures of Ashlee and Jim, who came with us.

I got to speak a little to the crowd about what my paintings inspire in me (and the other way around.) Was a pleasure to be heard and responded to. I also loved hearing the other artists talk about their approaches.

This is the third Grace event and I'll keep coming back for more!

Spring 2010 Calligraphy & Bookmaking Classes

Friends!

Next week marks the beginning of a new round of Bookmaking and Calligraphy classes I'll be teaching in Atlanta for the Spring of 2010.

Click on the links to be taken right to the sign-up pages.


Italic Calligraphy: Apr. 15 - May. 20 | 6 session Class @ Binders | Thurs. evenings 6:00-8:30 | $140.00 | Beginner to Intermediate | Min.4/Max15


Copperplate Calligraphy: Apr. 14 - May 19| 6 session Class @ Binders| Wed. evenings 6:00-8:30| $140.00| Beginner to Intermediate| Min.4/Max.15


Bookmaking: Apr. 13 - May 18| 6 session Class @ Binders| Tue. evenings 6:00-8:30| $140.00| Beginner to Advanced| Min.4/Max.15

More Flourish

This was done for a recent client and I won't post the entire image until well after their wedding - but this gives you an idea of how much fun it is being a calligrapher and dancing on the page.

What you see here is the result of a request from the client to me for "more flourish." Not every day I hear those beautiful words. So yeah!

This couple was such a delight to work with - really - most of them are. The whole Bridezilla thing is blown way out of proportion. All of the brides I've worked with have been so sweet and grateful for and excited about inviting the living, inking hand into their wedding plans.

This artwork was first sketched out in pencil and then completed in Illustrator with the pen tool. LOVE those handlebar curves!

Guilty Pleasures

Inspired by a warm cup of goodness at my local Caribou.

Red Barn

Coptic bound "Red Barn" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair! Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with, Washi Paper from Binders Art Supply and vintage children's book illustrations I found at Atlanta Vintage Books!

Count Your Blessings

Coptic bound "Count Your Blessings" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair! Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with, amongst other things, vintage russian foldin' money I found at Atlanta Vintage Books!

Morning Roast

Coptic bound "Morning Roast" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair. Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with wrapping & washi Paper from The Paper Source and vintage children's books illustrations I found at Atlanta Vintage Books.