Make today the day! (Doodle giveaway result - part one)

Thank you so much for stopping by over the past couple of days to say hello and tell me a little about yourselves!  I have loved reading your comments and learning about all of the things you're up to.

I have also completed the first doodle thought note card to send out:

After consulting the random number generator at random.org, I am pleased to announce that the first note will go to Silverlotus, who wrote about her love of needlework (knitting, cross stitch, and crochet) and her desire to write a book!

Silverlotus, I can't wait to put your note in the mail!  If you could send me a quick email at christie(at)graceisoverrated(dot)com with your mailing address, I'll send it off.

I'll be back on Monday to show you my next doodle note and its recipient.  Until then, here's a sneak peek at my progress so far . . .

If you're just learning about my doodle note project and would like to enter your name to receive a hand drawn, handwritten note in your mailbox, there's still time to pop on over to this post and leave a comment.

See you back here on Monday, friends!

hugs,
Christie

Doodle thoughts, mailed out to parts unknown (a little giveaway)

Update:  This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by to leave a comment!

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In my last several posts, I've been drawing out my thoughts:
Muchness
A fine mess
It isn't supposed to be easy.  Don't let that stop you.
Different is not necessarily wrong.
It's easier than you think.  It's also harder than you think.  Paradoxes abound.
Listen first.  Talk later.
It's not about the numbers.  (Except when it is.)

I have loved this creative side trip and it's gotten to the point where I'd really love to try sharing my wordy sketches in a new way, perhaps by making them a little more interactive.

Last post, I brought up the idea of mailing them out -- a little side project as I work on longer term goals.  Then, this morning, I was thinking about life and progress and new things -- the usual -- and I drew this into my sketchbook:

Sometimes, seeing the words on paper makes all the difference to my attitudes and actions.  Do you find that, too?  Maybe that's why I'm a little obsessive about words and journals.  :)

So, in the spirit of making today the day, I'd like to announce a doodle giveaway.
I'll start with today's drawing, add a little colour, then cut out the sketchbook sheet and fold it to resemble a note card.  Inside the card, I'll write a short note and mail it off.

I'll plan to do, say, four more.  Five in total.  (If all goes well, maybe a few more.)

If you'd like to enter your name to receive a happy little doodle in the mail, just leave a comment on this post.  Stop by to say "hello" and tell me one thing about yourself.  If you're a teacher and you'd like to tell me about your class, I'd love that, too!

For each of the five doodles, I'll choose one reader to receive it.  If I announce your name in one of the five upcoming posts, you'll need send a quick email to christie(at)graceisoverrated(dot)com with your mailing address (which I would never, ever share elsewhere).

See you back here on Thursday, when I'll post the first finished doodle, plus the name of the person who'll receive it.

hugs,
Christie

Doodle thinking

So I've been posting all sorts of wordy doodles recently.  I'm at a bit of a crossroads, contemplating inevitable change, and the doodling has offered a fun way to work out my issues; to think new thoughts and organize old ones.

Beyond the doodles, I find myself really paying attention to the world around me and looking forward to writing out the resulting reflections in distilled snippets.  Searching for perspective or humour, at least, in the uncertainty.

I've was thinking this morning, that I'd love to add an interactive element to the doodling.  What do you think?  A giveaway perhaps.  Doodled notes mailed out to parts unknown?

Sounds like fun.

Working on, thinking about, doodling

Working on:  My Emmy acceptance speech

Kidding.  Still plugging away at the second pocket journal.

I've also been working on getting to know my camera a little better.  I began a six-week photography course last week and the homework involved using the ISO, shutter speed and aperture settings.  After completing the homework, I have so many questions.

I cannot wait until that magical point when my brain stops resisting all of this new information and begins to integrate it.  Can't wait until I know how to make all of the individual settings work together.  If all goes well, there will be new and improved product shots in my shop's future.

Thinking about:  Consistency, practice, patience, work-life balance, work-community involvement balance, fatigue, numbers, the absence of numbers, creativity, isolation, social networks, innovation, uniqueness, stubbornness, guidance.

You know, the usual.  It's all a bit of a jumble, so I'm letting my subconscious take first crack at it.

Doodling: Yet another of life's cheeky lessons.

It's that last part that takes a little getting used to.

hugs,
Christie

reminding myself to . . .

Another doodle thought

still doodling my thoughts

random doodle

Tried it with a little colour, too.

Working on, thinking about, doodling

Working on:  Negotiating a bilateral trade agreement

Just kidding.  Still plugging away at that pesky pocket journal.  Doodling borders and frames.  Deleting prompts that aren't quite right and dreaming up better ones.  Printing off sample pages.  So close!

Thinking about:  Wisdom and experience

"Wisdom depends on experience."  So says Barry Schwartz in his TED interview on NPR and he's right, of course.

Which is why I think first-time parenthood (or living with your partner for the first time or owning/renting your first home) is such a visceral shock.  You wander around at times (and by you, I mean me) muttering, "why didn't anyone tell me?"  They probably did.  You can read a million books on the subject (still me), but until you've lived it -- tasted it, smelled it, touched it, worn it -- you just don't know.

I'm still at the stage, with my little business, where many of the decisions I make are firsts -- the experience before the wisdom.  Sure, I read a lot and I ask a lot of questions of family, friends, and professionals who've been down this road before.  In the end, though, I have to take a deep breath and make the decision, not only the right or best decision in the circumstances, but the wise decision.

Which means risking, at times, making the wrong decision.  Making a fine mess out of things.  In the pursuit of wisdom.  It's the only way.

Doodling:

 

I almost didn't post this doodle.  I've been working on my lettering, along with trying to figure out the blending characteristics of my paints.  Not quite there yet, but the work continues.

What are you working on today?

hugs,
Christie

Working on, thinking about, doodling

Working on:  The usual -- Pocket Journal No. 2

Thinking about:  The weekend.  My mother-in-law is holding a little (read: huge) get together to celebrate the arrival of the newest member of the family, a beautiful niece!

Doodling:

A thought to end the week:  treasure your muchness!

hugs,
Christie

Today

I'm still searching for that magic posting format that will make it easier to post on a regular basis.  So today I've cooked up a new scheme based on three prompts:  working on, thinking about, and doodling.  Updates and doodles, yep, that just might work.

Working on:  Pocket Journal no. 2

Still making incremental progress and plugging away at every opportunity.  I'm hoping the file will be ready to send to the printer by the end of September.

Thinking about:  My friend, who is still having such a difficult time

Her situation reminds me of the one that many new parents face.  The baby arrives, everyone is overjoyed, and family and friends arrive in great numbers with gifts and food and helping hands.  After a few days, maybe a few weeks, family members and friends return to their busy lives and the new parents are left with the overwhelming reality of caring for an infant.

Even as traumatic as my friend's first few months in Canada were, they were dynamic -- terrifying, but dynamic -- and there were people who sympathized and many who could help.  Now, with the initial settlement piece completed, most of those people and their agencies have moved on to other terrified newcomers and my friend is looking down a long, lonely road.  I am doing my best to offer her some company and a helping hand as she walks that road.  But it is hard.  And sad.  And worrying.

So it was lovely today, after a difficult few days, to mix some pure, bright colours and put brush to sketchbook with no plan in mind.

Doodling: Circles and stripes in watercolour

I dunno.  Just reacquainting myself with my paint colours.  In circles.  And stripes.

Wishing you bright colours and happy doodles!

hugs,
Christie