So, you think you're not creative...

I'm sure you all remember the essay I posted in March about everyone being creative (but if you don't, here's a link).

Well, I've been thinking a lot this past year about having some kind of art retreat, a little like Artfest, but not nearly as large (I was thinking about 10-15 participants), and much closer to home (say, Park City or Heber), but definitely as much fun. And I was thinking about it again tonight, and I said to myself, "Self, why don't we have a creativity retreat instead of an art retreat?" And then I said, "Why, Self, I think that's brilliant! Then we could have lots of different kinds of lessons and workshops and have ridiculous amounts of fun!" And then I clapped my hands together and said, "Okay, Self, let's get started on this."

This retreat would be not just for those who already know they're creative; it would be for those whose creativity is dormant. Yes, even those people who insist that they're not creative would benefit from this retreat. Benefit and have fun.

So, here I am, getting started on a creativity retreat, to be known as the Creative Divas Retreat, and I wanted to put it out to you, my handful of faithful readers, first. Here's what I'm thinking:

• 3 days and 2 nights in a cabin up in Heber one weekend in July (1, 2, and 3, or 8, 9, and 10)
• All meals and snacks included
• All supplies included
• A special handmade gift from me
• Classes that might include: writing poetry from nature, "Stop thinking and start writing", game piece jewelry, making journals and art journaling, wishing shrines and/or prayer flags, crowns.

And I want to reign in the price at between $200 and $300 (maybe even less). Quite honestly, I want to get it as cheap as I can without scrimping on quality (We will not be eating store brand cookies; only real Oreos will do for my Creative Divas!), so I wouldn't be taking much profit, if any, from the weekend.

This is what I would like from you, dear readers (ooh, I feel Jane Eyre): If you would be interested in such a weekend (no commitment right now, mind you), email me or make a comment on the blog. It would be girls only and a whole lot of silly times, kind of like a pajama party for adults.

Oh, and if you're interested in teaching something that you know how to do/make, let me know that too! I don't know if we could pay anything right now, but it would be a good chance to start getting some teaching experience. And, who knows, maybe the next year it might be even bigger and people will come from all of the world just to take a class from you!

Love

This writing is inspired by J. Ruth Gendler's The Book of Qualities.

Love is very mercurial. Sometimes she is pleasant. She gives you hugs, she tells you how much she cares about you, she makes you feel like you can do no wrong. On those days, she wears red and pink. In fact, she looks like a walking Valentine with hearts embroidered on her cardigan.

But, other days, Love wears steel gray sweaters, jeans, and black combat boots. She's Tough Love and she will kick your butt if you even try to get out of line. She tells you that you're better than you've been behaving and to stop pissing your life away.

Some say Love is bipolar, but she isn't. She just will show you love in any way that will get through to your heart.

A Dear John Letter to A Soda Pop

My dearest Diet Dr. Pepper,

How I have missed you! Every day, I crave your sweet smooth taste. I ache for your lovely brown, bubbling liquid lighting up my dull glass. I dream of the days when I held you in my hands and I knew that I would not be tired because you were there.

But, too quickly, you became a drug. I was addicted to the burst of energy I had when you were my drink of choice. I couldn't sleep at night. And so I had to leave you for your weaker, younger brother, Caffeine Free.

It certainly isn't the same, but he's a safer choice. I can sleep at night now, and I no longer have my recycling bin full of your bottles. It is better. I keep telling myself that. This is the way it needs to be. I'm sorry.

Love,

Andria

P.S. Don't despair. I'm sure you'll be back in my life before you know it. It's only the second week of school.

To Me From My Shadow Self

This is a letter written to me from my shadow self. To learn more about your shadow self, read Susan Wooldridge's book Poemcrazy.

Dear Andria,

Hi! It's me again! Sorry I haven't been around for awhile. After you read Almost French, I took off to Paris for a couple of weeks. I wore a beret and dressed in haute couture and drank cafe au laits while sitting in a little outdoor cafe that sits on the Seine. I did a lot of people watching, a lot of writing, and a lot of just sitting and listening. Oh, and every morning I had flakey croissants and chocolat chaud brought to my room at the little hotel where I stayed. Hmm, maybe I shouldn'thave told you that. I heard that you were on a diet; how's that going for you?

After Paris, I went up to Port Townsend and rented a cottage on the beach. I walked the water's edge every dawn in my bare feet and wore a bright red dress that swirled around my ankles. When I finished my morning walk, I would hide all day, working on that novel that you started last year. Too bad you were to busy taking care of your kids and trying to finish unpacking before you went back to work; it would have been nice if you could have gotten away to spend some time with me. Maybe next summer.

I think we should get together sometime soon. Give me a call when you have a free moment, okay?

Love,

Your Shadow Self

Artfest Circle Journal

I was invited to be part of a circle journal project started by some of the new friends I met at Artfest in April. I am so excited to be involved in this project. Above are the pictures from my own journal, inspired by the poem "i carry your heart with me" by ee cummings.

It has been so much fun working on this journal and to have a place to work on it that is not my kitchen table. Pictures of my studio are soon to come.

And, as usual, my photos are totally mixed up. I really need to figure out how to do this.

Crafting Queen Art Shrine

I made this little art shrine for a swap. It's made with a Martha Stewart specimen box that was on clearance, a lot of different vintage trimmings, an image from Artchix Studios, glass glitter, and some fun clear scrapbook pieces. I love it so much I kind of want to keep it, but I guess I'll just have to make my own. *sigh*

I need a cool new idea for my blog...

I'm currently reading Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. I started two hours ago and I'm already on page 76. I didn't even watch Scrubs so I could keep reading it (okay, I did watch the episodes that were on at 8:00 and 8:30 on Comedy Central, but I did not watch the episodes that were on at 10:00 and 10:30 on channel 14, because they were reruns I'd seen over and over again. In fact, I think I've seen the same ones already this week).


I'm a little jealous of Ms. Powell. I want a cool idea for my blog that will make people want to keep coming back for more and then I can write a book which is then turned into a major motion picture. I could keep doing ARBPTWPMYTU, but so many people keep saying that they like my bad poems that I'm beginning to doubt my understanding of "good poetry". I don't think I'll do food, because I don't think many people want to read about all of the stuff I make from the Weight Watchers' cookbooks. Author and columnist Ann Cannon already has the market on a blog about writing and what she eats every day. (If you haven't read her column in the Deseret News, you have to! It's hilarious, she's hilarious, and I might even start subscribing to the Deseret News so I can read it. Well, probably not. I'll just keep going over to my parents' house to read it. We subscribed to the newspaper once, and the stacks of papers that needed to go to the recycling bin just became unbearable. I don't think I could do that again.)

So, back to the beginning, I need a cool new gimmick for my blog. Here are some ideas, just off the top of my head:

The Crazed Rantings of a High School English Teacher (Just in case you didn't get enough rantings from crazed people with their own shows on news networks who for some reason have a huge following)

What I Read Today (which could be potentially interesting, but also could be very boring if you really don't want to read about fluffy romance novels or poorly written papers)

A Daily Dose of Wisdom From Scrubs (hmm, I like that idea; I could even make it more broad and just say "A Daily Dose of Wisdom From Sitcoms" so I have an even better excuse to watch Friends, Fraser, and Will and Grace)

A Daily Dose of Crazy From Daytime Soaps (this could be a "don't-do-this" blog inspired by my recent obsession with The Bold and The Beautiful)

What do you, my dear readers, think? Perhaps it could be a combination of all four? I'm kind of liking that idea.

Do you have any other suggestions?