A Walking Meditation: Relax Your Creative Monster

When I need to recharge between projects or am working out a plot point, I walk. Walking is a great way to let my mind wander and play. It never fails to relax me and help improve my storytelling. I normally take a lot of photos, which is great because I am submitting them to Shutterstock for royalties, so my walks serve a dual purpose. I also get a really good workout because I am gone on average about an hour at a time.

Have you tried a walking meditation when your writer's mind needs space? If you take pictures on your walks, please share them below in comments. I'd love to see your art or hear about any other suggestions you have for relaxing your mind.

Welcome to Shutterstock!

 

I have been accepted to sell my photography on Shutterstock! I finally took the plunge and submitted. Wish me luck. They have very strict guidelines, and I haven't had a photo accepted, yet. I am going to apply to Getty. I think they might be more open to my artsy style.

What have you been doing lately?

Do You Still Play?

 

I do. I find it therapeutic. There are so many stressors since the coronavirus lockdown of 2020. I find it essential as a writer to have other outlets. It lets my mind relax and ideas flow. Sometimes there are no words for the feelings I have at the moment, but they come to me when I use my hands. 

Since early 2021, I have picked up two new art mediums; I am working on guerilla chalk art and also the Kindness Rocks campaign. I've painted over 400 hundred rocks and guerillaed a few parks, used my driveway as a canvas, and drawn outside of places where friends live. It's been a lifesaver. It helps me to have another creative outlet to feel less isolated and keep me sane. 

I hope this post finds you healthy mentally and physically. The pandemic has altered our world forever. We are living in a time of cultural, social, and media whiplash. Sometimes I tune out for my own sanity. I'd like to share some pictures of my artwork with you. I hope it brings you joy. It does for me. You can find more of my chalk work online. Please share your own work in the comments. It brightens my day.

Does Your Home Art Reflect Your Writing?

I've blogged before about my carnaval mask collection, so you're familiar with it by now. This is my newest addition to the family; my husband named him "Pablo." Pablo is a reproduction mask made in Mexico. We stumbled upon him at an antique gallery in Denton, Texas last weekend. My husband and I swore we weren't going to buy anything, just window shop, but as always, that's when we find something we just HAVE to have. Pablo is now hanging above the fireplace with his other friends and is quite happy, as you can see.

My mother recently came to stay with me and help out, since I've been recovering from two hospital visits and dealing with some pretty serious medical issues in the past six months. (I'm going to be having another surgery soon, but it's not scheduled, yet.) We moved at the end of April due to my health issues and it's been a slow process of unpacking, since the move wasn't planned, we hired a company to pack and move us, and my husband works long hours. I'm still living out of boxes as I type. My mother helped with some asked me one night while she was here, "How come you have so many decorations that are different mythical creatures and gods and goddesses?"

I hadn't really thought about my house being a multicultural/mythical endeavor before, until she mentioned it. Good question, mom!

The answer: Because I like pieces that speak to me. Every piece of art I display in my home reminds me of a story I read or a conversation about a story I'm going to write that I've had with my husband in the wee hours of the morning when we should both be sleeping. I believe art tells a story and my photos do as well. That's why I fell in love with photography, because photos hold emotion and tell a story I can escape into through the lens. So naturally, as a storyteller, I'd want to surround myself with stories in art. Wouldn't you?

Ask yourself the same question: Does your home art reflect your writing? If not, you might want to immerse yourself in your local art museum and see what pieces speak to you. You might be surprised about the stories they have to share and the writing journey your friends may take you on. And if you're suffering from writer's block, a trip to your local library or a bookstore for a collection of paintings or photos might just be the inspiration you need. Or perhaps, you already have your muse hanging on your wall right in front of you and you don't know it! If not, you should find one and put it up. My first royalty sale ever was generated from a piece of art hanging up in my house. It's been a good luck charm for me ever since. Find yours and use it. And good luck!

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Writing Inspiration #2

My holiday gift to my husband, an original by me.

If you missed the first installment of my Day of the Dead post, you can still read it. It explains the history of Dia de los Muertos and has more pictures for writing inspiration.

What I like about Mexican folk art is how colorful and imaginative the pieces are. There is a celebration of death and life. Since the Victorian mourning customs have gone the way of the dodo, talking about death has become a taboo in Western culture. We don't even like to think about it. When my brother passed away in 1998, I realized this personally. Many people seemed uncomfortable and didn't know what to say to me. It was sad.

When I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2006, I delved below the surface of the Mexican art to discover the meaning. I'd always been fascinated by the subject matter and wanted to know more. It has enriched my writing background greatly and I still have yet to write all the stories I want to surrounding the characters from Mexican traditions.

The piece above is done in watercolor and black graphic ink pens. I am getting it professionally matted and framed. I can't do as much art as I would like, since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003. My hands hurt a lot, but I still manage to do a few pieces now and then, though it takes me longer. But like my writing, it is an escape from pain.

Here are a few more pictures from my art collection to inspire your stories:



Vintage 1970s piece. The Mask Maker.



Circa 1970s mask.



Mexican Nichos. 

Mexican Nichos traditionally feature loved ones that have passed on, Catholic saints, or cards from La Loteria, the Mexican version of bingo. Nichos originated from church art. In other Spanish speaking countries, they are known as retablos. They are made from tin. You can buy unpainted ones to create your own, something that I am pondering at the moment.

The ones you see here are La Loteria nichos. The top is The Siren and the bottom is El Diablo, the patron saint of lawyers.

I hope these bring you some writing inspiration today. As always, happy writing and happy reading to all!

Bibliophile Heaven - Recycled Book Art!

There's a hot trend in fashion and interior design in the past few years for recycling books into wearable art and home decor. If you have used books that aren't donateable to your local library or something you'd like to pass along to your friends/relatives, there are so many great ideas to repurpose them into items you'll use.

This past year I completed my first recycled scrapbook using mostly recyclable materials for decorating as well. It was the easiest scrapbook I've completed and affordable because I didn't need to buy paper inserts for premade books. I decoupaged the cover to make it personal, but left some of the original cover showing:

These are just a few of my pages to give you an idea of what you can do with a recycled book:

If you're not into scrapbooking or journaling, there are plenty of other uses for your unwanted books. I'm going to share a few of my favorite links I found on the Internet.

You can make a functional purse from a book. This is great for anyone into retro items. You could do Nancy Drew or Wonder Woman or anything you can get your hands on! I watched the video and the instructions are very easy to follow. There is some minimal basic sewing involved, though.

http://www.videojug.com/webvideo/how-to-make-a-handbag-out-of-a-recycled-book

If you're not fashion-inclined, you could make a functional lampshade for your house. I want one of these, but have to figure out where I would put it.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycle-lamp-shade/

Another decorating idea is a recycled paper mirror. You've probably seen these online or in the store for ridiculous amounts of money, but you can make them cheaper with a little bit of labor. This past year I saw a different version of this one at the Earthbound Trading Company.

http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2010/05/make-a-recycled-book-page-sunburst-mirror.html

For the holidays, I found this amazing recycled book Christmas tree, which makes the perfect centerpiece or table tree for those in cramped living quarters.

http://www.gagazine.com/how-to-make-a-recycled-book-christmas-tree/

If you're not into the holidays, perhaps you like gardening! You could try making this nifty planter for an indoor plant. It's the perfect accessory for crazy bibliophiles everywhere.

http://curbly.com/chrisjob/posts/8806-curbly-video-make-an-planter-from-a-recycled-book

For more ideas or to find places to shop for items if you don't want to craft, check here:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycled-books-as-art-10-innovative-creations

http://www.etsy.com/teams/6756/the-alchemical-codex-society-book

As always, happy writing and happy reading! And happy crafting to bibliophiles everywhere!

Less Stress, Equals Success!

In the past couple of weeks it's been hard for me to focus on my writing, which doesn't happen that often to me.  Years ago I kicked that nasty writer's block in the butt and just said I was going to write no matter how I felt about what I was writing, but sometimes, life gets in the way of you being able to focus.

We all need a little downtime when we get stressed.  That's why it's important to have hobbies to keep you -- the writer, sane!  I have four hobbies that are guaranteed to de-stress me.

1)  I love to create art.  I do watercolor, decoupage, and crochet, but mostly I like photography.  I recently picked up scrapbooking at the urging of a close friend.  In the past two years I've learned how calming cutting paper can be.  This past week with a death in the family was hairy for me, so I broke out the scrapbooking supplies and created these cards for friends and family throughout this year.

2)  My second hobby and first love, is really reading.  When I read I can escape to wherever I want to without breaking my budget or having to pay for a pet sitter!  And I can stay in my pajamas and slipper socks!  Who can beat that?

3) My third hobby, of course, is the zoo I have at home.  I currently have 3 hermit crabs in a 20 gallon tank, two bearded dragons, one in a custom 6 foot long tank and one in a 40 gallon tank, three cats, a 3-toed box turtle that is native to Texas and in a 40 gallon tank, and a Cuban Anole in a 20 gallon tank.  Here's the collective zoo photo.  From left to right starting at the top, you have Houdini, Derrick the Beardie, Toshio, Tiggyr, Fizzy the Cuban Anole, Mike the Beardie, Brad the Turtle, and Spot, the largest of the three hermit crabs.  They keep me busy every day!

4) My last hobby, guaranteed to get you de-stressed and out of a writing funk, is to just walk or participate in some other form of exercise.  Not only is it good for your physical health, but it is excellent for your mental health as well.

I hope you found these tips helpful. 

As always, happy writing and happy reading!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear Wendy Wench screaming something about plot development.  And it's time for lunch.