This,That and the Other

 

the greys and browns of my winter morning walk

textures by Flypaper and Kim Klassen

I’ve been busy…still walking! No kidding, I’m still walking almost every day and it’s amazing what a big chunk of time it takes out of the day…especially when coffee is included as an incentive at the end of it. And because of it, I’m feeling great…the exercise, the sunshine and extra Vit. D (or alternatively, the wind, the rain and stinging pink cheeks), the deep breathing and oxygenation, the physical tiredness, not to mention all those happy little endorphins that are swimming around in the chemical soup. I wake up in the morning wanting, needing, to get out, to get moving, even when the weather is west-coast-wild. This is just not me, at least not any aspect of me that has ever surfaced before, but I’m thrilled with it and have a feeling that this me is here to stay. I have more to say on this and what I think has triggered the change within me, but I'll save that for another day.

 

 

I’ve been playing around in my art journals for the past month… I have several journals on the go and they’re all different sizes, so yesterday I ripped all the pages out, punched holes in them and put them all together under one cover, held together with rings. The cover is made but not quite finished yet.

 

 

I've been using my journals as a place to develop ideas as well as trying out different media and techniques. I can then decide from there if I want to change something up and take it another step...and sometimes I just look at it and think "well that was fun but that's enough of that".

 

 

…The cover is made but not quite finished yet. (the writing was just photoshopped on the picture!) Does anyone actually say "pizzaz" any more or am I just dating myself?

I’ve also been redesigning my blog and will be updating that soon too (in the next few days). So as usual, there's a lot percolating beneath the surface here, both mentally and physically.

I'll leave you with this quote by Neil Gaiman, which I really, really love...

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

 

Comments

[olivia]

Oh kate, I love it all--the newly found love of walking (in this weather!), the art, the combining of the different journal pages and journals all together. I can't wait to hear about what has wrought such changes...Good for you! It all sounds like you're in a wonderful space in this wild and wooly weather. Love and blessings and warmth in the cold, xoO

[tanna]

Looking forward to hearing more!!! :) blessings ~ tanna

[Trish]

Love the art! And that Neil Gaiman quote: perfect for a new year!

Happy 2012 to you.

[Elaine]

Loved your quote. I need to get back to that place of needing to walk. Reading your blog has motivated me to go for one right now (and get off the computer). I have been a bit of a weather chicken. Looking forward to walking on the beaches of Mexico. Maybe see you there.

[martie]

Lovely! The quote is great. When I lived in the UK my boss said the worse thing you can say about someone is that they "try" - because (unless it is rugby) it indicates that they fail if all they ever do is try. But to make mistakes! Now that is something I can do, and then learn and move on to a new day and new mistakes! Happy New Year dear friend!

[lauren]

Love your art journals...been meaning to do mine forever. Enjoy your walks!