November Recap!
November is the month of being grateful, thankful and reflecting on all the wonderful things going on in life from getting my zeal for creativity back, having the best little fam and the good fortune to have a great support system of friends.
My crazy talented husband painting with our kids.
But also I have been weirdly thinking a lot about being selfish - the positives and negatives. My buddy and neighbor Tolly wrote this thoughtful substack about sex and selfishness that got me really thinking about selfishness and creativity. We just don’t have that much time as parents, as employees, as people to do all we want and need.
In this battle with time, every decision to invest in one part of our lives feels like a trade-off between winners and losers. Dedicating ourselves to parenting means a lack of creative pursuits, and vice versa. It's a game where time is the currency, and every expenditure feels like a strategic move.
But I am working to reframe that, to see how things can work together. What if being a little selfish, in the right doses, could benefit not only ourselves but our families and future too? My friend Anna lent me her copy of the Artist Way (which has had a real life changing effect on me). In the book they have a quote from Jung ‘ “Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children then the unlived life of the parent.” Its a little dark - but it's a reminder that a life with a touch of selfishness, can ripple positively through our surroundings, shaping not just our own experiences but those of our loved ones as well.
Recapping all creative things this month
My big creative project:
I went to LA to visit my friend Anna for her big 40! Though it was to celebrate her, it was a great selfish treat to have long walks, 3 breakfast sandwiches in one weekend, and lots of talking all things creative with one of the most thoughtful, observant, creative people probably ever. I made her this card which was inspired from an artist i found on instagram who uses cut-outs of colored paper.
I wanted to create something that included all the things that make Anna - Anna from her King cat Biskit to her community garden volunterism to her passion for travel. I learned a lot in this process and would love to try again with a new tool for cutting paper and a new approach to the faces.
Some things I made this month:
Mold of my ear in resin
Started this stop motion/photo project where I will paint on 60 frames of scenes from this summer.
Decorating the gym room with some wall art, hanging the eyeball and getting this great sign.
A rose apple pie for thanksgiving. I did a bunch of baking over Thanksgiving break and loved these baked art pieces.
Some things I liked this month:
The Artist Way - I’m on week 2. I hinted at it- but it has really had an impact on my life. The first lesson in the book is to commit to writing 3 pages of whatever is on your mind each morning (the Morning Pages) and its been a real benefit on getting things outta my head and on paper.
Rachael Renae - https://www.instagram.com/rachaelrenae/?hl=en I took a lot of inspo from her blog and her instagram about embracing your style while being free and creative with expression. She has a newsletter that I highly recommend about creativity.
The 5th Season This was hard to get into, it starts with a grieving mom. But was a wild Fantasy adventure that has a lot of parallels to race relations.
Meghan Currie Yoga I love her vibe. I have always been a lover of super sweaty workouts, but she really knows how to do a good slow burn while being present. Each class is creative and unlike the last. https://studio.meghancurrieyoga.com/catalog