the long and winding road

I’ve driven over a thousand miles in the last week and a half. And even further in my heart and soul.

At the Creativity Coaching Association conference in Lake George, NY I was overwhelmed with business inspiration. At Squam by the Sea in Nags Head, North Carolina, creativity, sea and sky filled me up and over.

Both trips were stunning. Here in the north, fall color was just past peak, further south more muted.
I have to say the high point was driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with the top down, a sensation I can only describe as blue and flying.

ORBS took their first road trip with me. I need more road trips in my life. And more beach retreats.

I never seem to be able to catch up with myself after experience like these, but here’s my topline for you. Take what you like and toss the rest.

Beverly Down, president of the CCA was a brilliant speaker. Fun, inspiring, honest and true. She shared a lot of wisdom, but the thing that stuck with me most, the thing I most needed to hear was this. It’s only a business if you make money from it. If you’re not, it’s a hobby. Simple but true, that.

Mary Beale Alder, social media maven, CEO of Georgetown Bagels, had great advice: just have fun.

Paula Chaffee Scardamalia took us into ritual territory with tarot.

Celia McBride, Brecia Kralovic-Logan, Tina Games, Denise Laurin and more wonderful coaches shared best practices, tools, tips and inspiration for all of us who are on a creative path.

ORBS soaked up a little inspiration of their own before our sunset cruise on the shores of Lake George.

Fast forward to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Sarah Ahearn shared her Mix It Up techniques for great little gessoed boards! What fun for me, since I’m usually 3d girl and have been pining to paint lately. Here’s what I made!

McCabe Russell got us all spray painting, stenciling and layering on repurposed children’s books. Amazing! It was kind of like doing graffiti on a tiny wall.

Jen Lee nurtured us with the Care and Feeding of the Creative Soul. It was one revelation after another. Top takeaway: pay attention to what makes you feel really good. So you can build those things into your life mindfully. Whether that is relishing a lovely cup of tea, a walk in the morning sun, or a bath. Find your soulful treats and make sure you treat yourself.

Oh! And there was full moon fire dancing, and a bon fire on the beach! Elizabeth McCrellish, Squam founder and her Squam by the Sea co-creator, Michelle Smith made magical things happen at every moment for all of us from food to new friends and the fire of inspiration.

For some reason the drive home was much more difficult than the drive down. I made it back to NYC in about 12 hours straight, just in time to see my dear friends from LA for their last night in town. Then got back in the car the next morning for the final few hours home.

I am always so glad to be here after any kind of travelling, even if it's just a trip to the grocery store. I pull up  and just sit in the car soaking up the trees, the peeling paint on the house, the birds. I unlock the door and step into this sacred space, an oversized altar, filled with the bits and pieces of the world that have touched me in my travels, down the road and around the world.

May your day be filled with Magic Medicine of journeys that bring you back to yourself.

tons to tell you about but...

Until I have a moment to catch up with all that's happened the last week, here's a little treat I just stumbled upon a few moments ago.
More delights to come. In the mean time, have you had your Magic Medicine today?
If not, make a little something. Even if it's just a scribble.
Please, don't wait til you're retired to get creative. Check out this article at WSJ. Everyone else is sharing it. Why not you and me?

Patch Adams is Coming to KL!

No not Robin Williams. I mean the "real" Patch Adams.Read this from MMR - that he's coming to KL on 26th Nov.But 26th Nov is a Friday...why?! Too bad I'm just gonna miss this opportunity...my annual leaves are finished! I think it'll be great to see him in person, and share his concept of "joy and laughter are an integral part of healing process"...just like magic? XDBut I also found out

CPR Guidelines 2010 (NEW)

AHA (American Heart Association) has just released the latest CPR guidelines on 18th Oct. This is undoubtedly something very essential in our daily working life - so make sure you are aware of the new changes.Some of the highlights in the guidelines:* "Look, listen, and feel for breathing" has been removed from the algorithm.* A change in the recommended sequence for the lone rescuer to initiate

Cause of Ascites?

Think this is an interesting CT scan of abdomen.A lady was admitted to medical for "Ascites for invesigation" - as usual, everything under the sun will be "for medical to find out". She complained of progressive abdominal distension and discomfort, and there was a vague mass felt on abdominal palpation.What do you think the CT (circled area) shows? (You can click to enlarge)

X-File (2)

Time for true story again - happened somewhere (location is confidential ><).One young lady came to casualty, complaining of "bleeding down there" - in her own words. She was asked a few routine questions, then was examined (abdomen no remarkable finding). Urine pregnancy test was negative. So, she was admitted to gynecology ward for "PV (per vaginal) bleed for investigation".In ward, HO saw her

Funny Vid (Samsung Commercial)

This vid (Samsung Commercial) has been on youtube for quite sometimes...nonetheless, it's a good one! It "teaches" you on tips of taking self-pictures a.k.a camwhoring - a popular trend nowadays. See it, and probably you'll learn some techniques - and why we shouldn't trust the pictures too much! ;)

Interesting ECG (5)

You were asked to examine this gentleman's cardiovascular system. By only inspection, you should have gathered two possible diagnoses in mind.Got it? If not, then have a look at the ECG (not his but just to give you a hint): (ECG from askdrwiki.com)Now shout out the answer! ;)

A Simple Thought?

Recently there's a case of severe anaphylactic shock requiring intubation for respiratory distress. It was secondary to severe allergic reaction to honey consumption. Surprisingly, according to family members, the patient is fully aware of the fact that he's allergic to honey, and would develop allergic reaction (pruritic urticaria and wheezing) each time he takes it. However, he still continues

success!

I often struggle with how to display my work as it isn't traditional 2d media. And although sculptural, it's not like a bronze or ceramic piece you can just plop on a pedestal and be done with.
At home in my studio, I simply lay pieces like treasures around the house. But when it comes time to put something in a gallery show, I have challenges.
Especially when I can't be there to help install. Which is exactly the case for the upcoming Millerton Fall for Art, October 24th, 5 to 8pm in Millerton, NY.

Thanks to a little woodshop instruction from my dad, and some hardware store detective work, I have finally made a perfect display stand for my small relic-like pieces. It's something I've been wanting to do for ages. And while I could have ordered these my work really requires wood vs. plastic display.

Scrap from my father's workshop, wooden dowls, a little wire and voila! I've got some fine tuning to do, but am on my way to a whole new way of displaying small works.

Of course, we found the key to the display case I originally intended to use but couldn't open, shortly after my display-making aha! moment. So now I've got options. I love options, don't you?

May your day be filled with the Magic Medicine of exploration and discovery.

Ann and Riva Have a Great Idea

We both crave community and get giddy at how a little soulful conversation between artists can clear the clouds that sometimes descend on our artistic process and practice.

So let’s lunch together Thursday, October 28th for community conversation around our creative challenges.

Riva will guide us on our creative journey with small steps for uncommon results. She is a certified Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach whose series on Part Time Art/Full Time Life is featured on CreativityPortal.com. She leads an ongoing, online coaching conversation with the Artist Marketing Resources community on linkedin.com. She is an assemblage artist and author of Magic Medicine: Rx for Creativity.

Ann is a Hudson Valley Painter who shares conversations, musings, realities and generalities about the artist's life on her website and blog, The Paint Box.

Time and place to come. Please drop me an email or comment for more information.

May the Magic Medicine of community nurture you in all of your creative dreams.