Pocket of Hope

Another piece in quarantine.  I grabbed a few sticks I found in the art room, some paper Kathi had made and some felt, beads, feathers and put them on a canvas background.
Felting is warm and the colors earthy. Took some of the wool and wrapped the sticks like a cocoon.
After all, we are all cocooning at home.
The Earth is in it's renewal.  Flowers blooming. I hear birds earlier in the morning again.
I'm grateful.
Grateful I have an abundance of supplies, enough to choose from. Enough to do.
I think the worst thing we can do is fall down the rabbit hole of despair.  It is a slippery slope and when the slightest indication of it comes by, I turn on music, pick up a brush or a pen, read, do some yoga, listen to astrology or call a friend. Weather permitting, I go for a walk with my camera.
I'm picking up old canvas too and reworking them, giving them new life.
New life seems to be key.  We get so comfortable in our old ways and I find as I get older, it's not so easy to find comfort in trying new things, new ways of doing things.
The truth is, for me, I know the Universe provides.  There is abundance if we tap into it and don't fall into scarcity thinking.  Here is the part where we turn off the TV, get off FB or whatever else you're into and go do something creative.  Go within and find your own truth, your own answers. Stop looking outside yourself, especially to the powers who are so confused, they cannot give anyone a clear answer.  You and I know in our heart what to do.  Listen to your heart. Have Hope.
Namaste'

Guardian of the Home

This is what I had on the easel at home. Edges need to be finished.  She is put together from pieces I found cleaning my art room and recycling an old canvas.  Home is key right now and I want it to be as comfortable as I can make it.
There certainly is enough to do here and enough materials to keep me busy.
I'm an introvert and I don't mind staying home for the most part. I do need to go out into nature.
Yesterday I gathered some more branches at Read Sanctuary for my planned sculpture.  It was a new area I hadn't been in.  I have an idea for the gallery window, so if you're in the area, keep a lookout for it in the near future.
I'm sewing masks. By hand! I think my machine needs to be oiled or something, but the good thing that came from that is that it feels like another form of meditation. Sewing while listening to music or astrology lectures.  I am grateful for both right now.
One thing I have noticed more is the awareness I have of how my emotions are affecting my body. Paying attention to this brings the awareness more quickly now that it did in the past where it was more accumulative. It became maybe a physical pain that made me take a look.. forced to look.
Pay attention to what your body is saying to you.
Watching news or any media produces feelings of anxiety and it sits in the body.  I want to be informed but not overwhelmed by it. Limiting this intake..
Instead, creating something calms me. It quiets my mind.
CREATIVITY IS THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR.

Nesting

Sad day today.
I did my laundry. Was a bit anxious because I went on the later side and there were more people than I expected.  Grateful to have the gallery across the street to wait, but I also went to the post office.  Thanks to Ada, I had a mask and felt a bit better, but noticed my emotions were a bit raw today.
John Prine passed away.  Kathi loved him and sang his songs and that's how I got to know him.  Every time I heard him, I would think of her.  I wonder if she greeted him.
After laundry I needed to go to the bank.. which is drive-thru now.  Coming out of the bank and passing the shopping center, I noticed a sign: FOR RENT.
I lost it.
So much loss lately. Tommy, then Alyssa and Maria, now John Prine.  I'm not going to be surprised to see more businesses closing.  It breaks my heart. Full moon. Aspects to Chiron. Not surprised at all about this build up and release.
I needed to go home.
I needed to walk.
I needed home again.  I turned the TV on. I turned the TV off.
Art!  That will help.  And some music.  And some tea.
Tomorrow I will nest. The emotional intensity I was feeling out there in the world was too much.
Trying not to touch shit, forgetting.. washing until our hands are raw.. yeah, better to be home. Nesting.  Be like that osprey and create a beautiful nest.
Create some jewelry. Make some art. Play.

ReBirth

As the world begins to blossom with it's magnificent beauty, we are given an opportunity to do the same.  We are given this time to rebirth ourselves if we take advantage of it. There is uncertainty, fear, and just so much confusion with various conflicting messages.  We need to have one foot in this world to be aware, but place the other foot into your retreat from this craziness.
Allow yourself to just be. Breathe through the turmoil and stress. Refocus your breath on the beauty that surrounds you. Focus on what you can do, what you do have control over.
You can take time for yourself. Cook a great meal if you are blessed to have food. We may need to find some creativity here.  Do some deep breathing exercises, some yoga, some movement.. lots to find on you tube... or hey, make it up.
What I'm doing is a bit of rearranging, reorganizing, putting a bit of order in my surroundings.  I journal a lot. I read books that I've never finished or hadn't gotten around to. I paint, I color, collage, photograph my surroundings.  I walk in nature to help ground me.
I sit in silence.
When is the last time you really got to do this?
When the anxiety surfaces, and it does come up, I focus on my breath.  I watch an astrology talk. It helps me to find some sense in all this.
A lot of this time is spent is wondering.  What can I do to help?  Where will we all be on the other side?  I look at a bigger picture (astrology), and know that we will come through this, just not the same.  Some will be filled with grief. Some may find a new purpose or renew an old dream.
Here's where trust and faith come in.  Trust that you will know if your purpose has changed or maybe intensified.
We have all been running ourselves a bit ragged.  Use this time. Look at it as your spiritual retreat and nurture yourself.  The quiet is the time we can hear spirit directing us. Listen deeply.
Namaste' my friends.

What day is it?!

Here at home during this quarantine, I am revamping my environment.  No easy feat.
The art room is a great challenge but I'm weeding through it little by little.
I'm hoping I come out on the other end a lot more organized and knowing what it is I actually have.
It's like an excavation at times, rummaging through, discovering lost treasure.
There is external treasure to be found, but along with that comes an internal one as well.
What self-realizations will be discovered during this retreat, time will tell.
Giving myself this sacred time to do all the things I've been putting off, catching up with myself.
Time for self-nurturing, healing, and creativity.
It's all a bit surreal at times, but I pray we all come out of this as best we can, renewed, refocused on what is truly of value and a better appreciation for what freedoms we had...
I miss my art and yoga classes.

New Possibilites

What to do with all that time on your hand?
Oh, I do have a list.
Time creating: painting, collaging, assembling, sewing, beading, journaling, reading, writing a book, John's and mine, photographing, printing, walking, yoga, learning more astrology, cooking, meditating...listening.
The challenge is how to receive an income.  Setting up a website, learning to communicate through zoom and Youtube and whatever else is out there.
A new world with new possibilities.
What comes out on the other end is anyone's guess.
Namaste'

Children at Play

This is the first year I haven't worked at the Recreation Camp.  I worked there for 30 years. I saw so many changes and now the big change was having a small art camp at the gallery.  It's been challenging as to how to set up the room, but with 7 kids in the front, it worked fine. The best  part is watching them create.. That's always the best part.
I love sharing the creative experience.
I love creating alone, but when it's a shared experience, so much more comes into play.  Kids are so creative and so much looser than adults. They play more than we do and that is the key. I learn from them. They inspire me. So many times I have spoken, "I would have never thought of that!"
Two weeks of camp left. So far, it's been a wonderful experience and have been quite impressed with the results of their art.
Garden Theme: Steampunk birds, Garden rocks, either a flower pot or birdhouse.. and who knows what altered version of these will happen.  Monday Aug. 8, 9, and 11th from 1-3pm  $100
Life is Sweet: Sculpey clay for small sweet things, painting of cupcake or ice cream cone, and crazy plaster cupcake... Aug. 15, 16, 18 from 1-3 $100.
sign up on Room to Create face book page or call 914 645 2738

Celebrate with us

It's been quite a year!
We have had such a great time meeting so many new people and many became friends.
That has been the delicious icing on the cake. 
Therefore, we celebrate this time of the year by GIVING to show our gratitude and love.
Hopefully you'll be able to stop by to join in the celebration. We'll have baked goods by Jennifer Ricci,
music by Demetri McMullen,  Stefanie will have some Beautycounter products that offer us all a safe alternative to care for our body and Avra from Avra's Way will be doing some complementary chair massages! Can you say RELAX!!!

If you are in need of a gift now or at any time, we offer a very personalized service.
Jewelry, inspiration bottles, and prayer / rosary beads can be made to order... Mandalas too!
We offer classes and workshops and we have some very exciting one's coming in January.
Now is the ending of the darkness and the coming of light.
Let's look to lightness, let's share our inner light.
Be the Light!
We would love to see you!
Namaste'

Opening Reception June 21 2-4pm

We'll be having an opening on the Solstice.. refreshments will be served and hopefully some music too :-)
We have new art: new pottery, new mandalas, new cards... lots of great stuff.. jewelry, dream bottles.. and keep your eyes open for upcoming workshops!!!

Birthing the Creative Self

After purging, clearing off my desk, I am back to 

mandala's morning meditation.

I love the insightful messages,

the sudden "remembering"..

The Inner circle, the creative will 

brings expression out into the world.

We give birth to our creativity.

When we are in this space of love

we can then express this creative self out 

into the world, 

bringing this love energy with it.

The outer journey may reflect back to us

separation,

a split heart.

We then return to center

to find our wholeness

and continue this cycle of 

going with in

to bring 

love

out into the world.

It's the only way to peace.

Peace within

Peace without.

Love within

Love without.

Namaste'

Coming Full Circle - Solstice Celebration

Next opening will be on the Solstice, so come on in and feast your eyes on some art.

Need a graduation gift?

Celebrate the lushness of life

Namaste' Art Lovers

Surrounded by beauty

To be filled with gratitude

for all the blessings that surrounds me.

I begin my day saying Thank You.

Red Cardinal singing outside

my window
awakening me,

Thank you.

The morning coffee brewing

that my loving husband has made,

Thank you.

Begin each moment with loving gratitude.

With those eyes, how can we not see 

the world around us 

mirrored back with the same.

Spring, in all it's glory,

Thank you.

You are beautiful.

Let me shine that beauty that is within

out into the world

just like you.

Namaste'

Choose Love

Right now I am hearing the song, "Sound of Sunshine" and what can better be defined as this then a flower.

It's a love song.. Flowers are love songs. 

This is a Margaritta: Spoon Flower and I planted it outside Room to Create.

Spring seems to be the time of year that I hear God speaking the loudest.  

My eyes are feasting on the beauty surrounding me.. color generously displayed in all it's glory. 

I love color. 

You can see this on the walls in the gallery. Color speaks loudest to me and if you would like to be embraced by it, stop in and fill your creative soul with it.

Although we usually have music on, I want to take it up a notch and bring more sound into the store. 

We have some windchimes hanging outside when we are open and my talented son is working on making some to sell.

Sound and Light. 

Energy of Love. 

This is what we all feed on.  

Eat well.

Namaste'

Awaken to Love

Awaken to Love

I put myself inside a box, 

but like Alice,

I have outgrown it.

Open up, expand, push through the illusion.

There are no walls-

just space.

Openness.

Expansiveness.

I can do whatever I can imagine my Self doing.

Being.

Seeing it all in a higher Truth.

Believe in the Miracle.

Stand tall, move forward - outward - it's all here for 

the taking, receiving, giving - 

it's all the same.

It's scarcity, contraction, and fear that keeps us in the dark -

but Light allows us to see the Truth eventually.

We just need to open our eye to it.

and our heart..

mostly our heart.