Blooming True

Yikes! Time passes! Another 2 months without blogging...
But I've got good reasons. Very, very good reasons. And I mean goooooooood :).

I've decided I have dreams and I've decided I'm going to work towards them, each and every day of my life. I've decided to be brave, to be bold, to follow my intuition and my heart and to step out of my comfort zone.

I've always wanted to be an artist. I mean, I always was, and I am now shamelessly able to admit I am one, but I always wanted to make my living as a full time artist.

At the same time, even if painting and creating is something I could do 24h a day, I cannot imagine 'just' doing that, because I also have the need to make a difference in people's life.

But guess what! I simply discovered I can do both. I can create and transmit. I believe I have the potential to light up the world with my passion! My ultimate goal is to own a space where people will come and reconnect to their profound essence through creativity. My first step towards that goal is to hold creativity classes. I'll be starting in September incha'Allah. I'll be helping people get better in their lives through simple yet powerful exercices that will teach them to take more time for themselves and to gradually develop an habit of finding creative solutions.

And because nothing happens by accident, I'm presently following a phenomenal, life-changing e-course with one of my favorite artist, Flora Bowley, called Bloom True. And gosh, how am I blooming true right now! It's not just a painting class. It's an amazing journey and for me it has been life-changing. I discovered a lot about myself, my fears, my intuition, my bravery and my potential. I've been able to translate a lot of the teachings of Flora into my personal life and I can tell you the results are amazing - both on the canvas and in my every day life.

I'm not done with the painting since we are in the last week of the course, but I have one canvas finished. Here are (some of) the different stages it went through. I started this with absolutely no idea in mind about what it would look like in the end and I still cannot believe what that painting became. It revealed itself bit by bit and to my surprise I found out I was able to paint in a completely different way than I was used to.

It is said that we have 1000 bad paintings in us so I guess I'm far from 'the' painting that will reveal my true voice and my talent but it's a first of a series of new paintings and I'm unstoppable at this point. I already have about 4-5 in progress right now!

 

So! Now you know a lot about what's going on for me. I may not come here soon again but I'll sure keep you posted about my next move. And for my french readers, I brand new blog is about to be born - I'll let you know when it's ready.

Much love to all of you and I pray you'll follow you dreams and be brave with your life. It's worth it.

Following my intuition

My paintings have dramatically changed since I read Flora Bowley's book "Brave Intuitive Painting". I don't want to have an end in mind anymore when I pick a brush and start to paint on a new canvas. I'm finally trying to trust my intuition, find my unique voice and allow my creative impulses to lead the way.

It takes a lot of courage to let go and even if the end result is not exactly satisfying, the journey was awesome.  Every day, for about 10 days, I painted for about 2 hours. I experienced colors, techniques, stamps, spray... Every layer was revealing something totally new and surprising. You can click on each image to see the details of the painting...

Next step: the Bloom True Course by Flora herself! A 5 week online course to help me unlock my creative flow and find my own style...

Meanwhile, I'm working on a very-big-and-very-dear-to-my-heart project that could help you  unlock your creativity... It's one of my biggest dream and I decided this year was going to be THE year. Once again I'm following my intuition and getting out of my comfort zone - and I hope many of you will profit! Stay tuned for more details!

Creative Night Out

For my 38th birthday, I gave myself a special present: a creativity workshop with Manon Lavoie from M comme Muses. I've been following M for a while on the net and love the way Manon approaches creativity - one small step at a time.

Finally, yesterday was the day I have been waiting for a while. I sat around a table with 8 other women, for a night, to reconnect with my inner self and use that space and time to listen, write and create.

I loved how everyone is at the same time different but share the same desire to create, to reconnect, to follow their intuition, their dreams. And with simple questions and exercices, Manon was able to help us start the journey back to our authentic selves.

Of course, three hours is not enough, but the spark lit the fuse. I promised myself I'll take a little time everyday to doodle, scribble, paint, write or just take a picture, to make sure I stay on the path of creativity - and keep in touch with my inner core.

And Nothing Else Matter

I felt like painting with kids watercolor. So I did. Despite all the cleaning and other booooring stuff I 'had' to do.

Ha.

 

New-merous Novelties

New stuff for the new year, more styles, more sizes, and the same authentic, hand-picked seaglass from eastern Canada. When was the last time you visited Zamzam Creations shop?

Painting with intuition

After reading Flora Bowley's book "Brave Intuitive Painting" in less than 2 days, I jumped on my painting material and decided to follow my intuition instead of my "already-made-idea", like I usually do.

The result is quite stunning. Not that the paintings in themselves are exceptional but when you think that I started from a blank canvas, with absolutely no idea in mind, and that I ended up with bright, colorful paintings that actually represent something, I think it's amazing.

I used my hands. A lot. Like both hands, full of paint. I also sprayed a lot of water, making a mess in my workshop. I used bubble wrap. Lids. Erasers. Stamps. Oh, and sometimes, a brush. Layer after layer, something eventually emerged.

I cannot describe the feelings it gave me. I felt just... so good. So me. In touch with my inner self, with everything that I am, the part people know, the part I never show... At some moments in the process, I felt I was laying a part of me directly on the canvas.

This way of approaching painting is very different from everything I used to do. But I'm now addicted to it and my paintings might have a totally new look in the future... 

Spring of Creativity

I felt a sudden burst of ideas lately, a rush of desire for creating and expressing myself through art - with the blossoming of the flowers, the chants of the birds and the warm breeze playing in my curtains, my creativity woke up from its long winter hibernation.

I bought an art journal where I draw, paint and paste almost everyday now. I feel that the time spent dedicated to my creativity is helping me to create a truer, more whole version of myself.

It's the Spring of my creativity. The Spring of my most authentic me.

It's my Birthday!

Well, kinda. I received 2 amazing books (one from my dear friend Marie, one from my dear self). I also bought some new stuff, including sketch books, pens, paint and brush.

Now will you excuse me, I have some reading/painting/drawing to do!

In Solidarity

I created this piece of art for a silent auction that will be held May 14th. All the money will go to Marie-Sol, a woman/mother/artist who lost her arms and legs after being affected by a bacteria in March. You can read her story (in french) and find out more about the auction initiative (also in french).

If I had a food blog

I would give you my de-li-ci-ous gluten and sugar-free chocolate cupcakes recipe.

I would write about my tantalizing miso/sesame/cashews/sprouts/veggies soup.

I would tell you how easy and simple it is to make amazingly good gluten-free pancakes using a millet, chikpeas and rice flour mix + egg, almond milk and baking powder.

If I had a blog about food.

She Sells Sea Shells

Remember the beautiful sea treasures my friend Catherine brought me from Mexico? Well, they make such beautiful jewelry! Colors are amazing and they fit perfectly with white seaglass. That'll be something new in my Etsy shop - sea shells pendants and rings. A little change, a new challenge and as always, a lot of fun.

Color Hunt

Fun and easy task today: grab a camera and take a picture of something that is one of the eight colors in the standard box of crayons - blue, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown an black. There should be no question what color the picture is for. Thank you, Crayola!

On my way to 100

For 2012 I decided I want a double 100. To have 100 items for sale in my online shop and to reach at least 100 sales (I'm actually at 67).

I started my production, photo shooting and listing... I wish I had more time to reach my 100 items for sale more quickly! Almost half way there - I have 45 already and maybe 30 ready to list. I also added a new setting for my photos: I re-created an eastern Canada beach with black sand, pebbles, sea wood, seaweed... It gives a new look to my listings of usual grey background photos.

If you want to help me on my way to 100 sales, please share!

Introducing...

...a new blog feature! I have that nice book called Caffeine for the Creative Mind in which you find 250 exercices to wake up your brain. They all involve fun and creativity. I decide to suggest one exercice per week or so to make you profit - and will of course do the exercice myself.

Here's a quick one to start.

What day is it?

The week of seven days was adopted in Rome somewhere about 400 AD and spread into Europe, but it had been recognized long before that in the East. The names of each of the days are generally associated with Roman mythology. It's time they received and updated, contemporary change. Your task is to rename the days of the week to be modern. They can all be associated with a theme, or they can all have different meanings. They can be as long or as short as you like, but they all must en with the suffix "-day", like they do now.

My week would be : Yawnday, Insignificantday, Middleday, Letshavebreakfastwithfriendsday, Shoppingday, Dealwithkidswhowanttomakespecialactivitiesday, Sleepuntiltenday.

What about you week? I'd love to know what you would come up with!! And stay tuned for more fun and creativity stretching exercices.

2012 Calendar by Gingiber

Totally new cool option!

I've been thinking about trying a different color of wire for my jewelry for a while and finally decided to do something about it. So I bought this beautiful antiqued bronze wire and I'm also waiting for chains and charms, also in bronze color. It looks amazing with seaglass! Can't wait to try it with rings and bracelets, too. That will change the look of my shop and will give a cool option for those who want something different. I think that can even look good on men.

What about you? What do you think?

If you're looking for me

You might find me in the crochet zone.

Whenever I have 5 minutes ahead of me (and even when I don't), I jump on my ball of yarn and my crochet to finish something. I made 5 hats last week : 3 different hats for me, with unsatisfying results (so I might just create another one), one darling little pink hat with a flower for my niece, one for my brother. I started a scarf for myself, with the nice fuschia color you see on the photo.

I just cannot stop, it's so addictive, I never thought it would be so!
So if you're looking for me, you know where I'm at...

And some more

I made this simple bracelet inspired by different ideas seen on Etsy and Pinterest. I also made a lantern with a jam jar and some purple lace from an old t-shirt (glued on the jar with Mod Podge).

Simple things that change my mind and make me relax. I cannot go with long and complicated projects these days, so... Easy peasy, funny bunny!