Hey, Artistic Mothers, would You Like to be my Fan on my New Fan Page on Facebook?

Just wanted to let you know that I started an Artistic Creations With Trudy Fan Page on Facebook. If you would like to be one of my fans, you can find my badge in the right-hand column.

Have a beautiful day.

Alternative Version of the Vision Statement Banner/Artistic Mother- Week 4

Shona Cole, author of The Artistic Mother, has done an alternative version of The Vision Statement Banner from Week 4 on her blog.

And go here to learn about and sign up to be in The Artistic Mother's Art Group.

Artistic Mother - Looking for the Missing Piece of Who You Were Created to be? (and a Giveaway of The Artistic Mother book)

So many of us struggle to complete the

image of who we were created

to be.

There are so many different pieces

to the puzzle,

wife, mother, sister,

caretaker, provider.

We try to say yes to each

request, each demanding a part

of us.

Some of us even try to fit in

pieces that don't really fit,

they are not meant to be part

of our puzzle.

God created, us each in His image,

to fulfill a part of His plan.

If we make God a part

of our decisions we are

less apt to try and fit

in the ill fitting pieces that

don't belong.

Put God first and the rest

of the puzzle will fall into place.

To visit other posts for Spiritual Sundays please

go to http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

The artwork and text above is the work of Diva's Musings. Posted with permission.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIVA!!!


***********

The first Sunday of every month Donna Rodgers of Comin' Home is having a Followers are Special Giveaway. This month She is giving away two books, The Artistic Mother by Shona Cole and The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches by Jeff Yeager. She is having a giveaway today which runs through May 1st for a signed copy of both books; so go check it out, and good luck.

Poetry Tote From Week 3 of The Artistic Mother Workshop

Well, I have finally completed my poetry tote to carry my poetry journal in from Week 3 of The Artistic Mother Workshop that we are doing as part of The Artistic Mother Online Art Group I am hosting here on my blog. The photo I used is of myself when I was around 17 with my dad. Look how nicely the journal and tote coordinate. I even used a piece of fabric from one of my fabric squares in my journal.

Next is Emily's. Age 9. I had enough fabric left over for Emily to make a tote to go with her journal as well. I guided her as to the steps to take, but she did all of the sewing and ironing herself.

In this next photo you can see mine and Emily's totes side by side.

And then we have Martin's, Age 7. He did all of his own sewing, too. This was his first time to use the sewing machine; so we kept it simple. But he really wants to do the patchwork tote; so he'll be doing one soon.

And here is the other side.

And now we are moving on to Week 4, which is on Page 83 of The Artistic Mother. Our project for Week 4 is the vision statement banner. We will spend two weeks on Week 4.

Don't worry if you are just starting or are still working on the earlier projects. Don't stress or rush. You may go at your own pace. Just try to do a little each day, not too much in one day.

Artistic Mother, Finding Time for Creativity & Family

I read this post that really spoke to me over at Life and Love in the Country called Giving Common Sense a Try.

She goes on to explain that we try to be super woman/super mom. We make these long to-do lists. We never complete the list, but run around trying to get as much done as possible on the list. But while we are doing so, we become stressed and short-tempered. We say to ourselves, "When I get these things done, then I will make time for my husband, my kids my art, etc." But the list is never done. Therefore the children and husband don't get as much of our attention as they deserve and desire, and we don't have any time for ourselves to take care of ourselves (sleep/exercise), relax or do something creative. This continues day after day, a never-ending cycle. Well, I don't want to live that way anymore! How about you?

The concept of the common sense approach is simple: Make a list of 3 to 5 things, instead of 20, that must be done each day.  Don't strive for perfection. Quality of life is more important than a perfect home. Keep the housework simple. Just tackle one room each day, one load of laundry each day, etc. You can work through the list pretty quickly, feel like you've accomplished something and have time for yourself and your family. Your family deserves time with you. You deserve time for yourself and your family. Taking care of yourself and not running yourself into the ground means that you can be a better wife and mom.

What do you say? Will you join me in this endeavor? I'd love to know what you think about this, if you have anything to add, any tips, etc., that may be of benefit to others. Also, if you give this a try, I'd love to know how it turns out. So come back and leave a comment on how it's going. I think we can all benefit from the shared experiences on this mission to improve our lives and our families.

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING: (Thank you so much, Ladies. I learn so much from you!!!)

Donna said...Trudy, I love this idea which is why I put it on my Top Ten Best Posts yesterday at Comin' Home. Joy is right, we can only get so much done in a day. For me, the critical thing is to decide what the 2 or 3 truly important 'must do's are and then focus on those. I know that if I will focus on the BIG job for the day, then the little jobs will all fall into place around it. For instance, I'm working on re-covering THIRTEEN couch cushion covers! This is a huge task and part of me just wants to give up in despair! But I decided yesterday morning to do at least ONE. I got THREE done plus a myriad of other small tasks. I didn't bother to put the other tasks on the list..just that ONE biggy! And that gave me time to go on a date with hubby last night too. Great post! I'm so glad you highlighted it today!

Joy should know, she has more challenges to face at home than most of us do. She's an amazing mother!

Sunday, April 18, 2010
Carin said..Great post and one I wholly agree with. I was forced into this kind of thinking kicking and screaming a some years ago now, and it has turned into one of the greatest blessings I could have ever received. Having a loose daily schedule has helped me a lot. Knowing what you have to do on a certain day makes it easier to fit in the unplanned stuff that you want or need to do.Sunday, April 18, 2010 
Diva Kreszl said..great advice, wish I had learned it sooner! the to do list is never ending so we simply must shorten the list if we are to find creative time :)Sunday, April 18, 2010

Lorraine said...what a great photo. My list has about 6 things on it and I split the hours up approx in the day so an hour to clean the house, an hour or two to exercise, an hour or two for arty stuff. then its time to pick the kids up and then its their time..thanks very much for your kind comment on my first poem.Sunday, April 18, 2010 

ELK said...

for something a bit different sometimes try making a
"TA DA" list..
keep paper and pen handy and throughout the day jot down small or large things that you complete...IE: unloaded dishwasher ...worked on tying shoes with Laura ... cleaned of the counter ...etc. then at the end of the day stand back and look at the list and say with a big flourish "TA DA!!!!"

Sunday, April 18, 2010 

Amie aka MammaLoves said...

I have always imagined my life at a very old age--near the end--and when I envision myself, I am surrounded by loved ones. It's their faces I see, not the clean house or the piles of money socked away.

There are many days I lament the state of my house, but my boys will grow up and move out before I know it and I want to make sure I squeeze in as much time and as many hugs as I can right now.

So I wholeheartedly stand behind you on this. My challenge is not beating myself up for the decisions I've made about my time.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Jen said...

Thank you for sharing this, Trudy. I've been trying to do this lately by doing little things like just one load of laundry a day (rather than trying to do all at once) and better menu planning for the week, etc. So far this has helped me steal back some time for my family and for being creative. I've also enjoyed how Shona Cole's book breaks down creative projects into small, bite size pieces, too.

Sunday, April 18, 2010 

***If you are new here, I am hosting an online art group where we are working through the 12 -project workshop in Shona Cole's book, The Artistic Mother, together and blogging about our progress and visiting and encouraging one another. The purpose of this group is to learn how to balance our time between family, life's responsibilities and creative time for ourselves; to learn how to fit a little creativity into each day; to nurture our own souls so that we can be better moms and wives and to prevent burnout and depression. Please click here to read all of the details and leave a comment there if you would like to join us. In my sidebar, you will see a blog roll for the participants of this group if you would like to visit around. There is also a Flickr Group for The Artistic Mother if you would like to see the projects we have been doing in this group. The book can be purchased at Barnes & Noble, Borders and other bookstores as well as Amazon. You may also visit the author at her amazing blog. She is having a giveaway for the art supplies needed to do the project in her book.

Artistic Mother, Make Something Lovely and Creative Each Day

I know that life gets busy and that it's all you can do sometimes just to do the daily grind: laundry, meals, errands, homework, baths, changing diapers, etc. But no matter how wild and crazy it gets, I want you to really try and take time out for you, even if it's only for 15 minutes, some "me time," "mother culture," and make something lovely and creative each day. It is so important that you do this. It will nurture your soul. I do not want you to run yourself into the ground and to only view yourself as a slave to others. When you take the time to take care of yourself, then you will have more to give to your loved ones; and you will prevent burnout at the same time.  That is one of the beautiful things about being involved in The Artistic Mother's Art Group. This group helps us to learn how we can balance our life, motherhood and being artistic.

If you have not joined our group yet, we would love to have you. Go here to read all about it, and leave a comment there to join in the fun.

Dear Artistic Mother, Please Do Not Compare

I would like to encourage all of you beautiful ladies in The Artistic Mother's Art Group not to compare your work to that of others. Please do not look at what others have made and get discouraged. Just do the best that you can do. This is not a competition. And we will all improve with time. The whole point of doing these projects is to build the habit of doing something creative each day and to look to one another for encouragement and inspiration. So please go easy on yourself. I love all of your work. Each of you are so unique and what you create is so unique that no one else can replicate it. It's all beautiful. Keep creating.

SIDENOTE:  Today is Shona Cole's birthday, the author of The Artistic Mother. You can wish her a happy birthday on her blog.

Newest Members of The Artistic Mother's Art Group

I would like to introduce you to our newest members of The Artistic Mother's Art Group. I hope you will add them to your list on your blog if you are keeping one and pay them a visit and help them to feel welcome.


I have all participants listed in a blog list just for the group near the top of my sidebar. Those who have posted most recently move to the top of the list. It shows five at a time; so click "show all" to see the whole list. You can come to my blog daily to see who has posted most recently so that you can visit around for inspiration as well as just encouraging one another. Thank you so much for everyone's participation. You are a great group!
77.  Rani of Scrap Yoga
78.  Andrea of Vintage Bella Studio
79.  Heather of My Everyday Graces
80.  Bertie of Life at Wildberry Cottage
81.  Beverley of Bunny's Girl
82.  Rebecca of My Momentary Lapses of Reason
83.  Lorraine of Love of Collage
84.  Jen of By Jen - My Creative Adventure and Inspiration
85.  Carin of Created With Love
86.  Robinsunne
87.  Sassy of Keep Me In Your Heart
88.  Express of Express & Create Imagery

No Sew Poetry Tote for Week 3 of The Artistic Mother Workshop

Guess what? You don't have to sew your poetry totes! There is another option. Hallelujah! Shona has done it again. In her post today she has a tutorial on how we can alter an existing canvas bag or how you can take fabric and staple and glue it together. Now who would have thought you could use staples and glue? We just have to learn to think outside the box. There is always more than one way to do something. The project instructions in this book are just a guide. They are not a prescription. So if you were dreading the sewing portion of this workshop, just head on over to An Artful Life and get some other ideas. And sign up for her giveaway of art supplies that you can use for the projects in this workshop in a previous post while you're there. Then head on over to the Arts & Healing Network to read a book review they have done on Shona's book, The Aritistic Mother.

Now I have to decide if I am going to sew mine or alter a canvas bag. The photo above shows my poetry journal from Week 2, a canvas bag I could use and fabric quarters I have already purchased to sew my tote. So we'll see. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. And don't forget to load your completed projects on to The Artistic Mother Flickr Group when you are done. The link is in my sidebar.

And if you would like to join The Artistic Mother's Art Group or find out more information, follow the link I have in the upper right-hand corner of my sidebar to the post I've done about this group and leave a comment there.

Have a great day!

What I Did Today

Today I thought about what a blessing my children are.
Emily reading to Matthew.

Waited anxiously by the phone to hear word of how my mother-in-law was doing after surgery. See my sewing blog to read about that situation.

Prayed and meditated on God's word. Sending up prayers for healing for my mother-in-law and praising Him that she is still here.

Folded and Hung laundry.

Worked on the tax return and paid some bills.

Met some friends at the park with my kids and did some hooping, for over two hours. Whew! What a workout!

The Kids' Poetry Journals

My kids have really been getting into poetry since I started The Artistic Mother Art Group. They loved my poetry journal from Week Two of The Artistic Mother Workshop and wanted to make one of their own. They used the 5 3/4 X 2 3/4- inch little memo spiral notebooks because they want to be able to stick them in their back pockets and have it with them no matter where they are when inspiration strikes. They decorated them with their background papers.

The first one is Emily's, Age 9.

And this is Martin's, Age 7.

See my sidebar for information on how to join The Artistic Mother's Art Group and/or order the book, The Artistic Mother.

And head on over to the author's blog, An Artful Life,  to win art supplies to use for the projects in her book, The Artistic Mother, this Saturday and every Saturday in the month of April.

Artistic Mother Articles and Interviews With Shona Cole, Author of The Artistic Mother

Shona Cole, the Author of The Artistic Mother, has written some great articles and given some awesome interviews recently that I know you will find so encouraging as you go along this journey of doing something creative each day. I hope you will take the time to read them. You will be so inspired by this incredible woman. We are all so fortunate that Shona has taken the time to write this book and share with us her story and how she fits creativity into her busy life and how we can, too. She also has an amazing blog, An Artful Life. She shares about her creative days with her children, poetry she has written, tutorials on how to make some awesome creations, alternatives for doing the projects in her book and giveaways.

For the whole month of April, every Saturday, she is having a giveaway for an art supply starter kit for doing the projects in her book.

Her book can be ordered on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble and other book stores. The link for Amazon is in my sidebar.

Also, if you are new to my blog, I am hosting The Artistic Mother's Art Group where we are going through the projects in her book together online and blogging about about our progress. I have a list of participants in my sidebar if you would like to visit around. Click here for more information about this awesome group of ladies. Leave me a comment there is you would like to join in the fun.

And now here are the links for the articles and interviews with Shona: Enjoy!

The Artistic Mother: Art Makes Us Better Moms at The Wish Studio.

Art Saves article on Crescendoh. My Artistic Heart as a Mother

The Art of Motherhood over at Shutter Sisters

Conversations With Shona Cole over at Persisting Stars

And an interview With Shona Cole over at Visionary Mom

You Are Not Behind - For The Artistic Mother's Art Group Participants

HOPE YOU HAD AN AWESOME EASTER!! HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR DAY.

AND BELOW THE PHOTOS, IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE ARTISTIC MOTHER'S ART GROUP PARTICIPANTS.

 

We are now starting Week 3 of The Artistic Mother Workshop. We will be making a poetry tote. If you are just now getting started or if you are still working on your background papers or your poetry journal, please do not despair. We don't have to all be at the same place at the same time. Feel free to work at your own pace. The important thing is to not get discouraged and give up because then you will miss out on the benefit. Remind yourself why you have chosen to be a part of The Artistic Mother Art Group in the first place. It was to build the habit of fitting creativity into your daily life. So just try to do a little each day. I encourage you not to cram and do too much in one day because you run the risk of burning out. If life gets in the way on some days or weeks and you can't do it, just jump back in as soon as you can. Be patient with yourself. You can do this. Step by step, little by little.

Poetry Journal From Week Two of The Artistic Mother

Here is my poetry journal from Week Two of The Artistic Mother, Page 73. I chose a photo of me when I was 17 with my dad, early 80s. My dad still had the 70s look. I hope to do another one later with one of me around the age of 3 or 5. I used five of my background papers along with a couple of other papers. The flower in the top left-hand corner is a piece of fabric, which I will also be using in my tote. I'll also be choosing other fabrics that coordinate with the colors in my journal.

See bottom of this post to see how you can win a copy of The Artistic Mother & art supplies to do the projects in the book!!!!

The photo below shows that I have covered the inside of the front cover with one of my background papers.

The next picture shows the inside of the back cover covered with one of my background papers.

And this last picture is the back cover covered with one of my background papers.

Now I am excited about getting started soon on my poetry tote in Week Three on Page 77 of The Artistic Mother. We will be officially starting Week Three after the weekend. But don't worry if you are not there yet. Just keep doing a little each day, going at your own pace, building that habit of making creativity a regular part of your life.

If you are new to my blog, over 70 other women and I are going through the 12-Project Workshop together in the Artistic Mother, A Practical Guide for Fitting Creativity Back Into Your Life by Shona Cole, and blogging about our progress and visiting one another and offering encouragement, support and accountability. Please see the note in the upper right-hand corner of my sidebar where it talks about the Artistic Mother Art Group; then click on the "here" for more information. Leave me a comment if you would like to join in the fun.

Also in my sidebar is a picture of The Artistic Mother book. Click on that, and it will take you to Amazon where you can read the reviews as well as order a copy for yourself.

SIDENOTE:  Shona of An Artful Life and author of The Artistic Mother is giving away collage starter kits on her blog starting this Saturday and every Saturday for the month of April. She has four to giveaway. So this Saturday go over there and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. In her post today she has a list of what supplies are in the kits. They are things that will help you do the projects in the workshop of her book. Good luck. Hope one of you wins. Let us know if you do.


WIN A COPY OF THE ARTISTIC MOTHER AT CRESCENDO TODAY AND TOMORROW!!!


HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!!