Do you believe in synchroncity?  I do.  Today is Jamie Ridler's Wishcasting Wednesday which I have taken part in for over two years.  It is also the last day of Leah's Art Every Day Month which I have really enjoyed being a part of this year.  I was trying to think of how I could combine my post so that it spoke to both important events when I found the above drawing which I did on this exact day four years ago and haven't looked at since.  Today Jamie asked, What treasures do you wish for?  My answer after finding this picture would be more days spent like I did creating the girl above.  I was on a cruise ship (I don't have to be cruising but it would be ok if that happened) and there was a drawing class.  The instructor was one of the young people who did multiple jobs but she loved to draw.  It was her last cruise and she asked if she could teach a series of drawing classes and luckily for me she was given the green light to teach. 
She loved drawing and especially drawing people. In four short hours, she taught a class of over 20 people of all ages to love drawing as much as she did.  Her enthusiasm for what she was doing, her ability to reach artists of all levels, and her ability to make everyone feel great about what they had drawn was incredible.  So the treasue I wish for is to meet more artists who love to teach like the girl on the cruise ship. 
What treasures do you wish for today?

PS  I want to thank everyone who has visited from AEDM and left messages over the past month.  It has been wonderful to meet so many encouraging and talented people.  I hope that you visit often.  It would be exciting to keep in touch with everyone and see what incredible things you create next.

PPS  The creative part of today's post is actually the post itself.  When I drew the picture four years ago I did not know that blogs existed and now I have one.  Four years ago I did not know to upload a picture to my computer and now I can.  I did not know anything about cropping a picture or adding it to a blog and today I can with ease.  So, although I now tend to take these things for granted, when I stop to think about it I have come a long way in four years.  It is good to look back once in awhile just to be able to remember and celebrate all that we have learned and now take for granted.

Today was one of those days where nothing went as planned but yet out of all of the chaos and scary moments came some bright spots.  My husband's breathing problems are really doing some strange things and this morning he passed out.  It was really scary and I called 911.  The woman on the phone was very nice but wanted more than just a street address.  I don't know anything about this type of thing (thank goodness) but I would have thought an address would have been enough. Luckily, we did not need an ambulance but we spent the rest of the day with doctors who were trying to decide whether hospitalization was in order.  You often hear horror stories about doctors, doctors' offices, etc.  Our experience could not have been better.  They were waiting for us when we got there and everything was handled with such great concern and professionalism that it definitley was reassuring. Then our doggie daycare ( something I never thought I would use but has been great) offered to keep the dogs overnight for free and then our favorite restaurant knew something was not right and gave my husband some extra special service.  When things go wrong, it is really nice to know that there are so many nice and caring people waiting to make your day better.
This is not at all what I was going to write about today but if I am going to write about life then this is it.  There are always going to be the ups and the downs sometimes in the very same day!

Do you have a purpose when you are creating or is being creative who you are?  I had two conversations recently which made me think about why I write, paint and now take pictures.
Last week I received an email from David who is working on behalf of  Vistaprint.  He had read my blog and thought I might be interested in using some of their products. ( I do think I will make a photo calendar from some of the pictures I have taken especially after talking to my son who told me that he uses their company and really likes their products.)  Then, later in the week I was talking to a friend who said if I wrote blogs for other people and made money by doing this it might give me a purpose for writing. 
 Both conversations made me pause and think about why I create and if I have a purpose for what I am doing. I believe my reasons for creating are simple.  I create because I love to and it is a way to express myself. I create because without thinking about it I have always been writing or drawing or designing something.  Being creative is part of who I am.   I create because it is a way to communicate with others.  It is a way to let the world know what I think and feel.  I create because it gives me joy. I create because it challenges me while at the same time I am having fun. And simplest of all.  I create because I want to and it makes me happy.  If someone asked you why you create something every day, what would you tell them?

                         As an artist, I do not have to be rich but I do need to be richly supported.
                                                                                                Julia Cameron  The Artist's Way

For several months I have been participating in Paula of Happysnappy's online The Artist's Way book club.  The great part of this book club is that there are no expectations.  You can go through the book as you like.  You can do all of the exercises or none.  It is entirely up to you.  Each Sunday, we post our reflections or insights from the previous week.  Again, no expections. 
I have also been participating in Art Every Day Month for the month of November.  I began by wanting to create something everyday.  Then it became my  personal goal to also post something everyday.  I have met so many wonderful people from all over the world and this has been an extremely rewarding experience.
I chose the above quote this Sunday because of the wonderful support I have received from the artists who are also participating in one or sometimes both of the above groups.  I am definitely not a professional artist but I am someone who loves art.  I appreciate the art of others and as I grow and learn about my own likes and dislikes I realize I do have a style that is uniquely mine.  My work doesn' t have to look or sound like anyone else's.  It just has to reflect what I believe and what I am trying to accomplish.  I want to thank everyone who has supported my efforts to become better at what I create.  It has been wonderful to feel so richly supported by so many talented and gifted people. Now, I can't wait to see what the next step of the journey will be like.

                                             When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens!

When I look at my own work it is through the eyes of a critic which often makes the process of painting a lot less fun.  My goal is to find the positive in each picture I paint, or photograph I take, or blog post I write.  I find it so easy to see the positive in the work of others.  But often, in my own work, it is the flaws that stand out.  Of course, in order to grow, I have to continue to see what I need to improve and to learn new methods.  But I am going to change the order in which I do things.  First, I will look for the things I like about the picture.  Then I will decide what I need to change in order to make it better or stronger.  But celebrations will come first.  I am hoping that as the celebrations grow the need to be critical will diminish.  So here is to celebrating each finished piece just as it is.
                                               When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens!
                                                                                                                         Ginny

It is Friday and time to reflect on all of the special moments that I am grateful for this week. It has been a wonderful week filled with special memories.  The one that stands out most is spending time with my grandson at his school for Grandparents Day.  My husband and I were so proud of him as he confidently shared his special world with us.  On a lighter note, I was really happy that I was the grandparent sharing this experience, not the teacher planning it. I remember how much work it took to produce a day like this and I am very grateful to all of the teachers who went above and beyond the call of duty to make this an extra special experience for all of the children and adults.
I am also grateful to Leah for creating Art Every Day Month.  It has been a while since I have painted and it has been wonderful working in my art journal each day.  As I continue to remind myself  that it is all about the process and not the final product, I remember just how relaxing painting can be.  I plan to continue this practice throughout December and see where it leads me.
This has been an exciting Thanksgiving week.  As we move on to more holidays and festivities, my goal is to focus on the positive, keep things as simple as possible, and enjoy every special moment. 
I would love to know about the things that you are grateful to have experienced this week as well as your goals for the upcoming month.  Have a wonderful weekend.
Ginny

It is Wednesday and time to answer today's Wishcasting question.  Today Jamie asked, "What do you wish to remember?"  This one is easy.  I wish to remember all of the unplanned special moments that occur each day.  Some of these moments can happen when I am alone.  Others can happen when talking with a friend or meeting someone for the first time.  It can be a beautiful sunrise, the sun sparkling on the water, something my dogs do to make me laugh or a conversation with my son.  It can be laughing with my grandchildren, sharing an observation with my husband, or sitting quietly by myself.  But each of these moments, especially when they are unplanned and unexpected, are moments that I want to remember and treasure forever.  What do you wish to remember?

Flowers fascinate me.  It is amazing to look at all of their intricate shapes and sizes and colors.  Some stand out because their colors are so bright and powerful and beautiful.  Others make a statement because their beauty is soft and calm.  Just like people they are all different.  But each and every one is beautiful in its own way .  I am so inspired when I slow down and take the time to see and appreciate all of the wonderful people and things that are right in front of me just waiting to be noticed. Where did you find beauty in your world today?

It is day twenty-one of AEDM and this is the first year I have fully participated although I didn't start until day five.  It is also the first time I have kept an art journal and I am enjoying both so much that I hope to continue both everyday throughout the next year.  It is an exciting goal and I am anxious to see where this goal will take me creatively and artistically. I have learned so much from the other bloggers and I am looking forward to learning more.  What will be really exciting is when the day comes that I am not only learning but actually helping others grow as well.    How has participating in this challenged affected your work?

                              It's a funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything
                                             but the best, you very often get it.
                                                                                                       Somerset Maugham (Chapter ten The Artist's Way)