by Heather Plett | Dec 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
Andrea Schroeder, a creative artist and blogger who happens to live in the same city I do (though I haven’t met her yet) was the first to answer my call for guest bloggers. Andrea runs some interesting creativity workshops right here in Winnipeg, and one of these days, I’m going to sign up for one of them!
i relax into my heart, i relax into my self and i open up.
i open wide.
wider than that. i open up and i dive in to the delicious creative energy that surrounds me in every moment.
i am a creative being.
i am positively bursting with creative ideas. i know that every single act of creative expression, no matter how big or how small, is important and valuable and needed in this world. i know that my creative ideas and expressions are important and valuable and needed in this world.
so i take my beautiful creative ideas and i let them out, i share them with the world, i allow them to touch the hearts of other creative beings and inspire them to share their creative ideas more fully. we inspire each other, we nurture each other, and we all grow creatively together.
we are all creative beings.
together we create a world of creative freedom, of inspiration and delight. a world where each one of us is supported in creating lives that nurture and support our unique creative expression. a world where each person’s unique creative expression is valued and honoured as a gift.
we create this world as we dive into the delicious creative energy together.
by Heather Plett | Dec 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
Laundry finished and folded so that the family can find clothes when I’m gone? Check.
Groceries bought so that the family can eat while I’m gone? Check.
Christmas tree up and decorated? Check.
Pants hemmed for Marcel & me? Check.
Rental car booked? Check.
Winter parka purchased for oldest daughter so that she doesn’t freeze when the weather starts to drop? Check.
Funky bag picked up from Joyce and packed full of travel goodies? Check.
Underwear packed? Check.
All other necessary clothing items packed? Check.
Hostess gifts and orientation material for new volunteer packed? Check.
Passport picked up from the post office? Check.
Haircut? Check.
Book to read on the plane? Check.
Flat Madeline safely tucked in my carry-on luggage? Check. (By the way, if you’re one of the gracious people who offered to host her, I’ll be lining up some visits when I’m back from my wandering.)
Camera, cell phone, laptop, mp3 player, and all the necessary chargers, download cords, etc. packed? Check. (Well almost – I have to put the laptop in the bag when I’m finished typing this.)
Taxi booked for the morning? Check.
Guest bloggers and interview responses lined up and ready to post when I’m gone? Check.
Powerpoint presentations prepared for trip? Uhhhh… nope. Guess that one will have to happen on the plane.
Guess I’m ready to go. All that finished, and it’s only 10:15! (No, I’m NOT staying up to midnight to work on the presentations that didn’t get finished.)
by Heather Plett | Dec 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
When I threw out an invitation for interview questions, Connie, the delightful artist behind Dirty Footprints Studio, decided it would be fun to interview Maddie, the budding artist in our home.
Hi Maddie!! My name is Connie Hozvicka and I am an Art teacher, and the artist over at the blog Dirty Footprints Studio. Getting to know you and your art work is one of my favorite parts of your Mom’s blog. Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me!
I call my studio Dirty Footprints Studio–that’s where I do all my artwork. Do you have a name for your studio as well?
I call it “I like Art Studio”. It’s kind of small. It’s under a table.
What are your favorite materials to use in making art?
Crayons, paint brushes, paint, and paper. And scissors. Recently I made a flat person – I flattened myself to look like a pancake. I call it Flat Madeline. We were doing an activity at school where we were making flat people and I decided to make one at home. These are the materials I used for my flat person.
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Leonardo DaVinci. Because I like the Mona Lisa.
What is your favorite color?
Pink. And purple. And blue. And bright green.
What advice do you have for people just starting out making art?
Start by doing something easy and then work your way up to harder stuff. Start by going to the store to get some art supplies and then test them out.
What other fun things do you like to do when you are not making art?
Soccer and swimming. I like to play with my stuffed monkey, Joe Banana.
What piece of art work are you most proud of and why?
My painting that I made for my sister called “The Purse”. I’m proud of it because it’s good.
Thank you Maddie!!! I hope one day we can paint and make Creative Juicy ART together. Big hugs!!
Connie
For more on the adventures Madeline the artist, check out her NEW BLOG! Yup, that’s right, since she likes to steal the spotlight around here, we thought it was time she set up her own space. Go on over and visit! www.madelinemakesart.blogspot.com
by Heather Plett | Dec 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
Sometimes, it seems, everything shows up in the same week. Like this week. Board meetings, concerts, school events, church events, board dinner, new staff starting – and that’s just the big stuff. In between there are kids to feed and deliver to soccer practices, flyers to help deliver, groceries to buy, etc., etc.
I survived. That’s about all I have to say.
And somewhere in there I managed to squeeze in a very worthwhile visit to the Karsh exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. It’s worth the price of admission.
Plus I managed to finish reading “The School of Essential Ingredients” – a delightful read!
Oh… and the Jann Arden concert? Fabulous. I’ve seen her five or six times and she just keeps getting better and better.
One other thing… I may be one of the only women on the planet, but I did NOT sleep with Tiger Woods. My husband almost wishes I had so we’d be “in the money”. But buddy, you’re the only one who shares MY bed!
Just one more thing… my friend M is one of the least racist people I know, no matter who says otherwise. (You know I love you, M!)
by Heather Plett | Dec 4, 2009 | art, business travel, travel
It’s been a full and exhausting week, but oh the good things that have come in the midst of all this craziness! To cap off the goodness, I won the bid on this AMAZING bag from Joyce, and now I can truly embrace the peace-lovin’ hippie in me!
How perfect is it that I’m buying a peace-sign bag from re-purposed fabric in support of justice and food for the people of Darfur!?! Everything about it just screams “this is meant to be Heather’s bag!” I hope to have it in time for my east coast tour next week (Joyce lives a half hour from me), ’cause I’ll be able to tell myself I’m just a free-spirited hippie out to convene with mother nature and a community of other hippies on the coast. Smile.
If you haven’t checked out Joyce’s Darfur Project yet, then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Go there NOW. Bid on a bag. (It’s okay – go – I’ll still be here when you get back.) Bookmark it for future reference, and keep going back. I kept forgetting to visit until it was too late to bid on the bags I wanted, but it turned out to be serendipitous, because I showed up at just the right time to buy the bag that is my favourite of the bags I’ve seen so far (and she makes lots of cool bags).
While I’m wandering the East Coast with my hippie bag, one of the coolest things I’ll be doing is visiting the artist Dale Cook in New Brunswick. Dale is putting on an art show in support of the organization I work for (Canadian Foodgrains Bank), and some of her paintings are based on my photos from India and Bangladesh. Here’s one of my favourites from a photo I took in India. Isn’t it beautiful?
I SO wish I could afford to buy it, but with kids who’ve suddenly outgrown winter coats and boots at the same time AND have this ridiculous expectation that they’ll get Christmas presents (sheesh), that would prove to be a little difficult. Hopefully it will go to a good home. 🙂 Check out Dale’s blog here.
I’ve got lots of other fun things lined up for my trip, including lunch and a studio visit with another artist/writer in Nova Scotia (whom I’ve admired from afar since I learned about her a few years ago and I’m in awe that I get to meet her face to face), and a meal in a restaurant/bakery that’s developed a special bread recipe that they’re dedicating to the Foodgrains Bank (every loaf they sell will support the work of ending hunger overseas). Plus I get to stay with my friend Randy (who gave me my triple spiral necklace on my last visit), and some other people that I really like (and expect to like once I meet the ones I’ve only spoken to on the phone so far) in three of the Atlantic Provinces.
It’s a good life for a peace-lovin’, art-lovin’, bread-lovin’, people-lovin’, justice-lovin’ hippie!
