creativenachos.com Blog

Recently my husband and daughter were sitting before a colorful glitter paint set getting ready to create masterpieces. With her paintbrush poised in midair my daughter said, “Watch Daddy!” Then, she proceeded to dip her paintbrush in several different colors – drops of pink were left floating in the yellow paint and then pink and yellow were floating in the blue and so on. Once she’d coated her brush with color she began to paint.

My husband’s initial reaction was to say, “NOOOOoooo wait, we don’t want to mix like that,” but only a small animal-like sound uttered from his lips before he caught himself. She looked at him for a moment and smiled.  “See? Come on Daddy let’s mix.” As soon as he let go of the idea of organization and doing things “the way they should be done” the two had an absolute blast.

Doesn’t it seem that from the time we reach a certain age we are programmed “not to make a mess”?  But I need to ask – what’s wrong with making a mess?? You have to clean it up? Ok, yes sometimes that sucks but think about the last time you really let yourself explore a subject, idea, craft, etc. You probably made a mess which is great. Why? Because when we make a mess it allows us to focus on something essential to our growth – exploration. It doesn’t matter what age we are, the moment we allow ourselves the freedom to play and mess-make, we learn and grow in ways because we aren’t editing ourselves; we are letting thought happen which inevitably creates even more exciting ideas. If we are stopping every few moments to organize everything or make sure things are in order we are distracting ourselves from the free train of thought that happens when we just let ourselves go and therefore limiting our ability to develop those thoughts that let us think outside the box.

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we don’t need cleanup and organization. I’m simply saying that these activities should follow our time of exploration when we are then processing all of our newfound knowledge.

When is the last time you let yourself explore freely OR allowed someone to do so without stepping in to stop them??

Today, give yourself some time to play, make a mess and learn something wonderfully, unexpectedly new!

I am writing in the hopes that you will help support a fabulous artist, Lorrie, in her efforts to collect 250 pieces of postcard sized original artwork to be raffled at the September 24th benefit for The Creative Center for Cancer (www.thecreativecenter.org).

Lorrie has been charged with soliciting unframed original 4 x 6 art in any medium-from acrylics to photography, collage to pen and ink and everything in between. This art will be on display and viewed by several hundred supporters which will include some gallery owners, art collectors and celebrities. Fine art by very well known artists will be auctioned off live, as well as celebrity art by actors such as Liam Neeson and Mia Farrow.

Currently, Lorrie is behind on her goal to collect the postcard art so she desperately needs our help!

Donating a postcard sized piece of your original art is a great way to honor someone who has been touched by cancer. The Creative Center for Cancer works very hard to bring art to people who have been touched by this disease. Please consider sending Lorrie something before September 20th. The address is:

Lorrie Veasey
c/o OUR NAME IS MUD
224 West 29th Street
Floor 5
NYC NY 10001

The value of your donation is tax deductable. Please include all your contact info on the back of the piece so that the person who wins your piece can contact you.

If you know any other artists who might participate in this event, please let them know.

You need not be an artist to participate, you simply need to have a desire to have create and have fun! I’m definitely creating a piece …will you join me??

I am famous for keeping my emotions inside. When something hurts, I often try to deal with it on my own. I prefer to cry in private and try to make myself feel better. At the urging of some very dear souls, I am working to share what’s inside. I’m learning that we need to share and lean on one another in life. 

I have been sitting here for the last fifteen minutes staring at the blank page not knowing where to begin. A small, quiet smile just spread across my face as I realized that I have been looking for the right “opening line.” I am in awe of the way my mind works, how hard it focuses on the little things when I hurt so that the hurt does not seem quite so big.

There is no right way to share this so I will take a deep breath and dive in. I was pregnant. It was new and we were over the moon. My daughter was going to have a little playmate. We had only told family and a few friends as we planned on making a big announcement when I’d reached three months and was safely out of the danger zone. That wasn’t meant to be. On Wednesday – quite suddenly – I lost the baby.

Perhaps you are wondering why I am choosing to share such a deeply personal experience in such a public arena. Well, the reason is simple. Keeping this a secret only adds a weight to it that it does not need; there is enough weight on my heart as it is right now. That is not to say that I want to have a big discussion about it here. I’ve only just come through the physical part of it; I am nowhere near ready to tackle and discuss the emotional. I’m merely sharing because keeping it a secret makes me feel as though I’ve done something wrong and I know, at least in a logical sense, that there was nothing I could have done to stop what was about to happen.

For days, I could do nothing but watch movies; I craved distraction. I could barely read and the mere idea of writing or drawing was a joke. It is only in the last 24 hours that I put pen to paper, that I began to draw and write short sentences. Coming to this page was a huge feat.

My emotions are terribly raw and I exist somewhere between feeling I am the richest woman in the world for all the love and support I have around me, for the blessing that is my family and feeling truly angry at a situation that seems pointless. Yes, I have been searching for answers – that’s the controlling side of me, the side that fights the idea of letting go and instead longs to find meaning, create meaning when I am creating a piece of art or writing. I am aware that there may be no answers.

In choosing to share this with you, I am not looking for a response. I know things like this can make people uncomfortable; you do not need to say anything. I am not trying to make you feel anything. I am simply sharing because in this space we have all been sharing our lives and our journeys.  That’s what life is about.

This is my life. These are the imperfections. These are the obstacles and milestones along my journey. There are moments of joyous celebration just as there are moments of incredible pain. People often say, “It’ll take a bit to get back to normal but you will.” No, I won’t. I won’t get back to that place I was in on Tuesday because on Wednesday something happened. Something changed me. That’s what life does, that’s what experiences do, that’s what creation of all kinds does; it changes you. And even when it aches right in the center of your chest, even when you feel like you have a million questions and no answers, even when you thank God for the people and the love that you do have, even when you promise not to take things for granted, even when you shake your fists to heaven filled with rage, even when you want to run and hide, even when you pray for the pain to go away, you change. You grow; it’s inevitable. That’s what we are all doing here. Good, bad, ugly, glorious we are living life, creating things that reflect what’s inside and letting that process change us.

I’m hurt, angry, sad, confused, happy, quiet, scared, lonely, overwhelmed, loved, and a million more things at the same time. Right now, I can’t promise to be anything for anyone but I’m here. I’m present. I brought myself to this page. I was honest.  It’s a start.
 

My lovely, talented blogging buddy, Trish, who is working hard to make the dreams she once put away come to life now, just gave me this “fabulous” blog award. Isn’t it fun? I’m so honored to receive it. Thank you, Trish! I am required to share 5 addictions with you (that should be easy, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate hahaha) and choose 5 people to give award to. So here goes – my 5 addictions are:

1. M&M’s (I told my sister-in-law this weekend that my husband may soon have an intervention with me due to said M&M addiction. I can’t help myself!)

2.Cheese – honestly it’s almost impossible for me to have a sandwich without it and …I like it by itself sometimes…just a slice here and there.

3.Thursday Sweet Treat – I love meeting the people who are submitting and joining. I want to meet more and learn more!

4.Kisses and hugs – my daughter gets more kisses and hugs than anyone. I’m sure she’s like, “Mom enough. I know I’m awesome and all..” hahahaha

5.Books – I am 100% addicted to reading and I don’t get nearly enough time but I dream of days lying in bed reading books!

The 5 people I give this award to are:
1. Bookwormz  – http://bookwormzreader.blogspot.com/ is a fun new blog by a spunky, little lady who loves all things books and has created a “Book Worm”.

2. Curiousmess - http://www.curiousmess.com/ is a colorful, inspiring blog created by a woman who is creating from the heart.

3. 365 Letters – http://365lettersblog.blogspot.com/ is an awesome blog that gets you back to that more intimate form of communication, letter writing. How can you not love that?

4. Persistent Green – http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/ is a thought-provoking, creative blog created by a super talented artist and writer looking to build her creative dreams.

5. Irish O’Connor – http://irisoconnor.blogspot.com/ is a new blog filled with interesting tidbits by a ridiculously witty, and talented woman living in Ireland who loves art and books alike.

Ok, I’ve shared mine. Now tell me your addictions!?!

Hi everyone – if you having or want to comment on the post below, please email me at Natasha@creativenachos.com. I am have a technical issue with the comments that I am trying to solve now. Thanks! Can’t wait to hear the things you are thankful for today!!