Blogging Class



Millie and Willie encourage new bloggers!

Quote of the Day: If you wish to be a writer, write! Epictetus (Greek Philospher)

This is one of my favorite quotes, and quite fitting for this group of writers. They came to my blogging class with ideas to share and words to write and pictures to post. I can't wait to see what they produce! Of course, they have the same old fears that all artists experience. Do I have the time, the knowledge, the know-how? Who am I to write a blog on that? What about the exposure to the world? Am I ready for that. I say, Yes. If you feel the call to write and to share your work, get going. The world is waiting for your words of wisdom and to connect with you.

These creative people will be starting blogs about geneolgy, a rare disorder, a mother and son who wrote a book together about his struggles with cancer at a young age. We had a quilter, a photographer (actually many who love to take pictures and share them), one or two who are retired and want to share their story, and several authors who want to get their words and work out there for all of you fabulous readers.

I'll share their links as soon as they're ready, and you can have more blogs to read and follow and fellow artists/writers to support. I love this blogging community!

Thanks, "kids", for coming to my class. I learned so much from you, too. That we never stop learning and growing and wanting to explore more of what this world has to offer on and off-line.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What is the purpose of your blog (or art)? Who is your audience?

Book Binding

Quote of the Day: If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once a week; for perhaps the parts of my brain now atrophied would have thus been kept active through use.  The loss of these tastes is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeebling the emotional part of our nature. - Charles Darwin (the beginning quote in my favorite poetry book The Music Lover's Petry Anthology)

(I would say do those things at least once a day. Creativity, art, music, nature, poetry, all the arts stimulate our minds.) 

A few of you guessed it. We made journal books.  The little one is an accordian fold book.  The larger one is made with nicely textured Japanese paper and an accordian spine.  We put three sections of paper in it.  The purple one is a multi-sectioned French twist binding.

Georgia has also taught me a modified Japanese book binding which I've used when teaching journal making, and writing.  I'd love to do more of this, both making the books and teaching.

I get all excited about the different kinds of paper you can find at art stores.  I love the textures and the things that are embedded in the fibers.  It stimulates my creativity.

My sister Joy and cousin Angie are visiting for a couple days.  We're off to the coffee shop where I do my writing for a cup of inspiration.

Journaling Prompt:  What stimulates your creativity?  Are you a teaching artist, or an artist who teaches, or would you rather not teach?  I think my first calling is teacher.

S is for Self-Care

Letter of the Day:  S

S is for Self-Care and Slumdog Millionaire.

If you don't take care of yourself and tend to your needs, how are you going to be healthy enough to create?  You need to claim time for yourself (see tomorrow's guest post by Cher), and you need to nurture your creative soul. 

Have you ever taken yourself on an Artist's Date?  This idea comes from Julia Cameron in her book The Artist's Way.  This book is filled with great ways to unblock your creative spirit and get you to take steps towards building your art.  If you haven't worked your way through it, I recommend you find a creative partner and do it together.  It's great to talk through the ideas and exercises together and you'll always have a cheerleader for your creative endeavors.

This week, I took a much needed Artist's Date.  I drove to a nearby town and visited the locally owned bookstore.  I loved it.  I chatted with the owner, and he said he was interested in bringing books to a Dementia Awareness workshop that's being organized by a group I've recently joined, LAMAA (Lakes Area Memory Awareness Advocates).

Then, I stopped at a cute store called:

It's a coffee/tea shop that also sells loose leaf tea and coffee beans.  I was so excited to see that they carry a few of my favorites.  My best tea lady closed shop in town a few years ago, and I hadn't discovered this place, yet. 

I made myself a cup of Evening in Missoula tonight.  Mmmm. hits the spot.  It has mint and herbs and other soothing plants, which is good, especially during allergy season.

I also picked up some flowers for my mom.  I wrote "Happy Spring" on the card.  It includes her birthday, Easter, and Mother's Day.  She lives a ways away where it is now quite swampy and flooded, but she said the roads should be open by Friday.

One more thing that fed this "starving" artist was listening to Dawn's CD during the drive.  (She wrote the guest post on R Day.)  Her music and voice are gorgeous.

And, a quick review of Slumdog Millionaire.  It's intense.  I was so nervous the first time I watched it.  I was afraid it would be too violent or heart-wrenching for me.  And, yes, there are a few tough scenes, especially with the children.  It depicts a place filled with strife and violence.  But, it's a story of survival.  I am drawn in by those stories.  I had to see it to the end.  I figured it wouldn't have gotten such rave reviews, Oscar nominations and awards, if it wasn't a strong and satisfying story.  It is.  I didn't know it was a love story.  Despite all the struggles, all the ugliness of that place and time, the corruption of some of the people, Good triumphs over evil - with great sacrifice.  I was left feeling hope in the end.

Journaling Prompt:  Where would you like to go on an Artist's Date?

Teachers and Students

Quote of the Day:  I started writing because of a terrible feeling of powerlessness:  I felt I was drifting and obscure, and I rebelled against that.  I didn't see what I could do to change my condition.  I wanted to control rather than be controlled, to ordain rather than be ordained, and to relegate rather than be relegated. - Anita Brookner

Oh, how this quote speaks to me and about me.  All of the things that blocked me and silenced me were released as I found my voice through writing.  During my years as an English teacher, I encouraged my students to write, to stretch themselves and to discover their voices.  Then, they turned that around on me and challenged me to do the same.  One of those students is Beth.  She is a writer and an actor and a musician, and now, a mom with two beautiful daughters.  They stopped by to visit me last Sunday.

I was her teacher for only a few months.  She was the star in the school play that I directed.  When I moved away, we stayed connected.  We sent writing to each other.  She kept me connected to her education.  She babysat for me one weekend when she was a college student, and I had four kids to care for. And, she invited me to her wedding and asked my son, the one who was born the year I was her teacher, to be the ring-bearer.

Last Sunday, she took the time to visit me, share her sweet family with me, and catch up.  I held sweet, baby girl, and talked to big sister (well, listened is the better word), gave her a booklet and stickers, which she categorized on the way home, and hugged my friend who was both student and teacher.

Her husband is a super guy, too, fun-loving, and gave me tips on archiving my photos.  He's super-organized in this area!  Plus, he's a techie - good to have a few of them on your team!

Journaling Prompt:  Summer is the season of reunions.  Did you reconnect with anyone?  Make new memories?  Who are you missing?

Women's Retreat

Quote of the Day:  Come to the fount of creation, where the water of life is flowing free. lyrics from the song by John Ylvisaker

Sunset after a storm at Mount Carmel

At a Weekend for Women, Sept. 17-19, I will be leading journal writing at Mount Carmel Camp near Alexandria, MN.  You can visit their website by clicking on the name, or contact me, if you wish, and I'll connect you.  mary(dot)aalgaard(at)yahoo com.

What happens at a women's retreat?  Besides great food, fun, and fellowship, you have time to tap into your creativity, or just Be.  I have some things to share about journaling, a few prompts, and we'll have time to write and create.  My friend, JeMA, will teach art, using nature and texture, and re-awakening our creative spirits.

You also have the option for massage, spiritual direction, walks, time to enjoy the lake, meet new people, or even take a nap.

Last year, I attended two of these retreats, lead some journaling, and enjoyed the beautiful women who were there.  Mothers & daughters, sisters, cousins, aunts, friends, and singles arrived to find rest and nurturing by the still waters.

Last year, I sat next to this lovely woman and her sister for dinner on Fri. night.  Turns out, she raised four children, taught piano lessons, and was a church musician.  What a great connection!  I enjoyed helping with the journaling and teaching the women how to make their own journals.  I had a cabin to myself along the water's edge.  The weather was lovely for September.  I fell asleep to the lapping of the water along the shore and felt peace.

Come away with me, if you can, or find a retreat for yourself wherever you live.  Women need to nurture their creativity and tend to their own needs.  Give yourself a little time-off.

Journaling Prompt: Write about a retreat experience that you've taken, or one that you dream of taking.

Breaking the Curse of the Good Girl

Quote of the Day:  Emotional Intelligence is a portal to fulfillment in every area of life. - Rachel Simmons, author of The Curse of the Good Girl Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence

I have four sons, but no daughters, so you might be wondering why I've been reading this book.  I bought it first to help myself.  I suffer from this curse.  The author describes how many girls are taught that they need to "be nice."  They're made to feel like they must be happy, kind, shy, nurturing, and not too smart.  They list "bad girls" as the ones who stand out, wear flashy clothes, are creative, speak their minds.  Girls start to believe that they're only allowed to have "good" emotions, be happy, smile, be self-sacrificing, and in doing so, they lose themselves and become ashamed of having fears, anger, needs, and original thoughts.

I also read this book because every week creative, intelligent girls come to my door and sit on my piano bench.  I want to help them become authentic women who aren't afraid of hitting a wrong note, making a mistake, having a bad day, or shedding a few tears of frustration, because that's what it means to be real.  I want them to know that making mistakes is part of learning, and that you can't be perfect all the time, if ever.  Perfect, to me, is a dirty word.  I'm trying to eliminate it from my vocabulary.

I want to nurture their creative spirits and show them how to encourage one another and build each other up.

As a woman who teaches, nurtures, and counsels girls, I need to show them that I am a human being with a full range of emotions.  I make mistakes.  I have conflicts in relationships, and I embrace who I am, imperfections and all.  As a mother of four sons, I need to show them that women are not happy, smiling Barbie dolls whose needs are less important than theirs.  We all have needs.  We all have good days and bad days.  Sometimes we're able to care for others, and other times we need their care.  That's what it means to be in a relationship with someone and to live an authentic life.

Journaling Prompt:  Describe a strong, authentic woman in your life.