Practicing gratitude for things like this helps keep me where the light is.

Given that we’ve recently moved to a new nation, I’ve done very little public writing about our life in Denmark. There are sheets and sheets of morning pages in my spiral notebooks – mostly about displacement and how it’s triggering delayed mourning in me over a whole slew of lost things. Most of them I can’t bring into focus yet, but one or two are starting to get a little less hazy. Eventually I’ll be able to write about them here, but for now they are still percolating prior to public display.

One thing that has caught me off guard here is the level of depression I’m experiencing. In spite of the charm and adventure of living in Europe, depression is always waiting to find a nearby nesting place. Any of you who have been through a stint with depression knows how even one day of that old sorrowful feeling can make you fear sliping back into the abyss. I’m not overly concerned thus far. As long as the migraines stay relatively infrequent and the Spring unrolls into Summer, I should be okay. Keeping an eye out for my cycle buddy doesn’t hurt either. Still, there are days where there is crying, and phone calls to Jen, and where not even chocolate can help.

Staying present helps. I’m finding that living in the here and now is more helpful than slipping into a past I cannot reclaim, or spinning forward into a future over which I can only pretend to have control. But staying present does not come easily to me. My spirituality tends towards the prophetic which means I live a little less in the now and a bit more in the not yet. In addition, my works as a writer tips me towards the past to find connections between old stories, and casts me into the future looking for new inspiration. But the now, well, the now doesn’t come easily.

Having a rhythm for the day helps me stray present to the current moment. Every day that I deviate from my regular rhythms I find myself living in regret (I should have done X instead…) or being frozen by options (should I write? Bike? Clean the toilet?). Without routine my day too easily becomes a four-hour binge of Dexter, followed by a crabby afternoon where I try to write after the kids come home from school. (Never a good idea.) Last week, when I strayed from the routine, Jen had to spend the bulk of the day talking me out of the sobbing mess that once resembled Rachelle.

Right now the essentials to my daily rhythm include:

Walking through the college garden on my way home from dropping the kids at school. I’m finding that in this busy urban neighborhood I need the relative quiet of the park. Otherwise my tendency to get distracted by sparkly things goes on hyper drive and I can’t quite seem to calm my nervous system.

Writing my morning pages. This practice from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way are a mainstay for many artists and writers. My habit of penning three pages comes and goes as needed, and right now it’s quite needed. I write them every morning as soon as I get home from the school/garden. Now that it’s sunny I can write them on the bedroom balcony – any extra Vitamin D has to help the gloom as well.

Yoga. Yoga. Yoga. Thank god for yogis on DVD. I have to have at least 45 minutes of Vinyasa everyday or I wobble about completely off center. I don’t think I even knew how to be present at all until I started doing yoga. I spent all of my time regretting the past or wondering about the future. But yoga keeps me focused on the current breath, the work of holding one pose and flowing into the next – at least for a few minutes.

Working on a regular schedule. After yoga I grab a shower and get to my desk. Sometimes I actually have to set the kitchen buzzer to make sure I show up at the page on a regular schedule. When I first came to Denmark I tried to write 4-5 hours a day, but right now I’m finding that even 2 or 3 hours is a good day’s work for me – at least when it comes to working on a manuscript. Then I log another couple of hours answering emails and typing up blog posts. Then my alone-time is up, and it’s time to leaving once again to fill my bike basket up with the days groceries, then peddle to the school and pick up the kids.

Without this routine, this rhythm to my day, I’d be a) a basket case, b)completely unproductive.

What staves off your depression? and/or What helps you stay productive as a writer/artist?

The New Year slipped in as we were all snoozing away in snowy Chicago. After a day with all 12 little cousins, the grown-ups were happy to climb in bed long before the big ball dropped!

I’ve no resolutions this year. (I think moving overseas is challenge enough for ‘aught eight!)Please loves, if you make some resolutions, limit it to three and make sure at least one is truly doable. I beg you, be kind to yourselves.

In lieu of resolve, here are three amazing books that just might change your life without even trying. Each one was life changing for me, and I’m pretty darn sure they will help some of you out there as well. This week’s theme is Artist Unleashed. The next four Wednesdays in January will include themes around: Feeling Better, Budding Feminist, Religious Awakening, and Survival Parenting.

Of course, you’re always welcome to list your favorite texts in the comments. We love, Love, LOVE good reads. And as always, any purchase you make by clicking on a title below helps support this site.
Happy New Year to you…may you be much inspired.
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My Name Is Asher Lev
Chaim Potok

Raised in a Hasidic family, young Asher finds that his passion for painting does not jive with the stringent the life of an orthodox Jew. Yet his creative passion refuses to ebb, and he must find away to fuse art and faith.
My Name Is Asher LevThe Chosen are Potok’s finest works. Today’s Flavor: Achingly beautiful.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Steven Pressfield

I’ve quoted from this book before, but I think it merits another mention. I’ve read a lot of books about writing, but this is the one that helped me make a leap from “dabbling”, to “seriously working.” If this is the year for you to go pro, The War of ArtToday’s Flavor: Short bursts of inspiration.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Anne Lamott

Anne is my priestess and this one of my holy books. All the writing advice in here is golden. Whether she’s writing about the radio station in your head that tells you your no good (“K-FUCK”) , or prompting you to get through your “shitty first draft” Anne’s wisdom comes across loud and clear, without being preachy or cloying. Just click and get it, will ya? Today’s Flavor: A gentle kick in the ass.

Next week’s list: books for Feeling Better.

I’m back at my studio after two weeks of travel, early school dismissals, and sinus infections. Inspite of the goodness that is family mangement/motherhood. it never ceases to amaze me how that gig can consume every last drop of time for creative pursuits.

It’s bittersweet to be here these days, knowing that I’ll have to pack it all up soon. I got a lot done here, in this room of my own. I grew as an artist and writer. I tried brave new things. But, all in all, all of my bigger goals have gone unmet. I’m still not making money as a writer, or as a minister. After much initial interest, my first book proposal is still drifting around, nearly dead in the water. People ask me to teach, then back down when they hear I charge a standard professional fee (that’s life with non-profits I suppose.) I haven’t figured out the freelancing thing. (I can’t seem to write fast enough to get out the critical mass necessary to land a few articles.) And my Etsy shop was just starting to turn a profit, but now I have to shut it down in January because of the overseas move.

I’m glad, so glad, that I’ve rented this room of my own…but sad too, that I’m still so stuck in my journey to the land of professional writers. I’m trying to embrace the small is beautiful concept that even a small start is enough, but sometimes it’s hard.

What do you do when your goals seem unachievable?

Okay, response to this current challenge has been a little lackluster. Methinks the general creative soul out there might be feeling a little hopeless. Be not swayed, all ye who craft! Finishing is possible.

You’ve still got a good two weeks to wrap up just one WIP (knitter’s slang for “work in progress). And here comes the weekend, ripe with opportunity. Why not finish it up and feel the soul-nourishing satisfaction of a job well done? (Or at least just “done.”)

There’s a flickr group to post your WIP and the final finish. Those who post a finished project by November 1st will be entered in the drawing for this week’s prize. (Maybe some lovely hand dyed yarn from Green Prairie Fibers? Or the latest copy of Craft magazine if someone other than a knitter takes home the gold…..) Go on! Post your pics!

P.s. Speaking of Craft Magazine and prizes, have you been over to Sk*rt lately? Why not skirt this (see the little button below) while you head on over there?

A big Magpie Girl “Thank You” to all you creative trailblazers who participated in the first Creative Challenge. (See all the results here!)

I was pleased to read the comments on each submission and see how many of you tried your hand at altering a photo for the very first time. It can be so intimidating to sort through the help files of the new photoshop program, or to figure out what the heck gel medium is! But once you do….how fun! A whole new pond to play in!

Today my teacup was filled with all of your names and with one quick pick, the winner of the Altered Photo drawing is: Krystyn Heide.

I’ve seen Krystyn take great photos with nothing but the camera feature on her cell phone, and I think we can all agree that her judicious use of digital effects make her well composed pictures really pop. Krysytn wins….

two vintage sparkle-goth roses from the fantastic antique mall next door to my studio. Maybe we can tempt her into tucking one behind her ear and showing us those new yummy his-and-hers haircuts…..

Our new Creativity Challenge is Matchbox Shrines. So cheap! So fun! Such great presents! Look here and here for some ideas, or order this great book to get into the Latina spirit of it all. I can’t wait to see your creations…mine’s already in the pool! Let’s see how many we can craft between now and the October 4th deadline, shall we? Maybe we can do and exchange of our own, eh? Oh, and next week, I’ll let you know what the prize will be. (Ooooooo…I love surprises.) Happy matchbooking!

Do you ever want to try a new art-y technique, but never quite get around to playing with it? Does if feel like you shouldn’t do anything until you can do it “right”? Do you have lots of art supplies, but not many finished projects?

My friends, now is the time to break through some blocks and learn to move and breathe and have our being in the world of creativity.

Here’s what I’m thinking, twice a month we should all try something new together. We can submitt pictures of our attempts, be okay with first-tries, and just generally get ourselves inspired. One lucky person from each challenge will win something nice from my collection of small-but-beautiful things.

Your first assignment? Alter a photograph. Do it digitally, attack it with markers, or scratch the hell out of it….whatever works for you. Then let us see how it went. Here’s something that can help you, and there’s some fun toys in the pool already – go take a peek!

What do you say? Wanna play……?

Now that I have a digital recorder I’m going gaga making soundscapes, audio essays, and interviews. In one such interview, Eden chatted with me about living the artist’s life — specifically about quality control, mass production (pro or con?), and pricing your artwork for sale. There’s some really helpful stuff in there.

By the way, Eden is nine.

Listen to Eden on Art

It’s a little bit of a rough recording because I don’t know how to edit properly yet, but hang in through the not-too-long slower bits to catch Eden’s pearls of wisdom. In the recording I mention this product and this event, and Eden talks about my vintage collection which you can find here. Also, as a nice little tie-in I’m reviewing the band you hear at the end of the podcast in my weekly review over here. Happy listenting!

P.s. I’m a little shy about posting these podcasts, so if you feel like commenting it would go be ever so encouraging. And I promise to learn how to edit soon!

Check out this week’s review of Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal and find out who won last week’s give away. It’s all right here.

I love illustrated journals. In fact, I have several books on my studio shelves about “how to” make illustrated journals. However, I have never actually made an illustrated journal. I find myself thinking, “Oh, I’ll make that when I learn to use acrylics properly.” Or, “I’ll start that when I know how many pages I want for each color/theme/idea.” Or, “I’ll do that when I’ve learned how to draw.”

The reality is we’ll always have something else to learn, some new idea to add to the order, or a new technique to master. If we wait until we “have it all together” before we start, we’ll never manage to get there. It’s like Lillithmother said in last week’s Small-is-Beautiful comments:

“ ….I have been struggling for a week to think small instead of big … I have creative projects in my head that I want out right away, already finished…without having to do all the small crappy stuff to get it to the point that my inner-perfectionist says it’s okay to do so. I struggle with the preparation…the practising…the research…because I now see that I’m getting so ahead of myself! I don’t have to make these projects to sell on Etsy (just yet)….I don’t have to add the frills…I can go simple….I can go small, and receive the same satisfaction…and offer the same gift of love and beauty….”

Lillith helped me remember that the small and the simple are often things of great satisfaction. We can all give each other the tiny shove that it sometimes takes to get us to lay our hand to the next small step in our unfolding worlds. For instance….

When we were on vacation last week I wanted to keep a journal to commemorate our trip. I had brought spiral bound blank books for the kids to paint and write in each night, but had neglected to get anything for myself. All I had with me was some drawing paper, my embroidery thread, and some very basic art supplies in my portable art box. (Some markers, a pencil, a stencil, and some thin-tipped sharpies.) I didn’t let my lack of the “perfect” supplies, or even my lack of a blank book keep me from making this small memory keeper:

I’m especially happy with this simple page.

I took a drawing class last year and rapidly learned that sketching is not my forte. But like Lillith’s reminder to “go simple,” my drawing teacher had a common refrain that has helped me to keep trying. His turn of phrase was, “That’s great! That’s totally recognizable!” Even though these quick pen strokes are far from being the pelicans I saw in my minds eye, they are clear enough to capture the memory. I’m glad I was brave enough to let my small attempts at drawing catch something beautiful.

What small thing have you ventured into lately that has helped you capture something beautiful?

Maria D. totally made my day when she sent me this fabulous photo of her and her grrls sporting their magpies. Wouldn’t it be fun to see what other people are doing with theirs? Please join in the Summer fun by sending pics of your magpie girl tattoo! I’d also love to see what y’all wrote/sketched/scribbled on the blank pages in Tweet. Go ahead, click here and jump in the (flickr) pool. (Don’t forget to put your blog address in the photo description so we can find our kindred spirits!)

p.s. Don’t have your Tweet yet? Buy one here. And don’t forget to go here and comment-to-win a new summer read.