SOS ... any suggestions for my #100DayProject?!??

It is that time of year again!?!? The100DayProject starts its 5th year tomorrow, and even though I am still in the throes of moving I must participate.

And I use the word 'must' for a few reasons. One is that I love participating in creative community challenges. Two, this is a perfect catalyst for me to unpack and find my paints and studio after this chaotic move. And lastly I choose 'must' because this desire comes from deep inside me which is how Elle Luna describes one's passions in her inspiring book:

The Crossroads of 

Should and Must

I first read "the crossroads of should and must ...' in August 2016, after stumbling upon it and I devoured it and it has changed my creative life, or at least gave me a new perspective. 

My 'must' to do this year's 100 day project is so strong that I have numerous lists of possible projects that I'd LOVE to devote the next 100 days doing, such as:

100 days of ...

• Virginiacreates patterns - this would be a continuation of the class, Daily Painting Challenge: 31 Painted Patterns with Lisa Congdon by CreativeBug which I participated in this January and LOVED! For this challenge I could use different materials,  different styles,  and it could be simplified if I am traveling (like when I joined  Francisca Nunes for her #30daysofpatternstudies in February 2016) 

• art blogging - posting here on my art blog, as I really want to get back in the habit of chronicling my creative journey.

• SCRAPs: Seriously Creative Recycled Art Projects* this is my trademarked name I made for my bottle cap jewelry (decades ago) and I was thinking I would resurrect the name for 100 days of collage and working with scraps.  One thing this move showed me was that I LOVE scraps, scraps of paper, of fabric, of labels, of yarn.  This would be similar to my dailydress journal(see below), however or the 100 days of SCRAPs I wouldn't necessarily add a dress?!?! 

(In 2011 I  created a dailydress journal in which each day I created a page from some detritus from the course of the day ~ a receipt, a paper bag, packing material, whatever catches my fancy, then I'd build a collage around that element and eventually I add an origami dress. Sometime the dress is large, sometimes small.   

• dailydresses - it almost feels too obvious, but I would love to create 100 days straight of dresses; ephemeral dresses, embroidered dresses, food dresses, sculptural dresses, painted dresses, collages?!? .... you get the idea.
• visual gratitude - you know how gratitude is the best attitude?! I thought I'd create an image of something I was grateful for each day

'from the land of dragons ...'

• food puns -  I have been considering rendering food quotes/puns, such as 'Olive you' with hand-lettering or using my understanding of the non-traditional material to create some interesting looking phrases.
• 'from the land of dragons ...' since Scruffy past I haven't been walking as much so not wondering through my land of dragons ...
• Virginia's kitchen knowledge - illustrations of helpful food facts, food prep and storage tips, recipes and whatnot.
• my morning coffee - some kind of rendering of my morning cup of coffee 
• 'Karoline Kitty who lives in the city' 100 drawings of the life and times of Karoline Kitty
• Portraiture: I've learned from agent and teacher Lilla Rogers that a strong illustration portfolio shows that an illustrator can do faces!! 

• 100 days toward opening my Etsy shop?!?!
• 100 new designs/posts to my Society6 and Redbubble shops

OMG - the more I write this blog the more ideas I have ....

So I'm not sure how I am going to decide but I need to decide by tomorrow! if you have any thoughts I would LOVE to hear them as I am feeling pulled in many directions!! But one thing I know is that it can not take up too much time!! This project's goal is to be creative on a daily basis. And as much I as would LOVe to do all of this project and spend all day in my studio, I need to unpack! 

thank you & peace, 

va

#100 days of motherlove

This past weekend I delivered my eldest to the University of Delaware to begin her next amazing adventure.  

It was a huge day; a full day, of excitement, trepidation, exhaustion, nostalgia, worry, celebration, sweat and some tears.  

But isn't this what we, as parents want, to have nourished and fortified our children, preparing to launch them on their personal adventure? 

That was the idea that stayed with me the most as I helped Maya unroll an area rug in her dorm room.  Here I was, living a day that I had dreaded because I thought I'd be a blubbering mess, however I was more proud than sad, more excited for Maya than anxious.  

So when the time came for me and her sister to head back home I didn't weep, I welled up a bit, but it all felt right.  

I am really happy with the college that Maya choose; Newark seems like a manageable town and her roommate is truly lovely.  

What more can a mother ask for?  

(granted, I have also gathered as many the guardian angels that I can to be with her and protect her) 

So I felt ok as I drove north, except for the fact that I had not given her all the advice that I wanted to give her.  

When she graduated I had started a 'book' full of advice; some obvious, some unique to me, some recipes and family secrets, some reflections, many quotes and other nuggets of knowledge that I wanted to send along with her.  

But thanks to life, commitments and my desire to create the 'perfect' book, 

the book was never created; 

it was started, but never finished. 

But somewhere in the middle of New Jersey it dawned on me that she can ALWAYS use motherly advise (can't we all), and that maybe doing it in a different format than a book may work better for us both!! 

Also during the past week, as Maya's departure loomed larger and larger, I stumbled upon Elle Luna's book, 

The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion

while last minute college shopping at Urban Outfitters. 

I knew of Elle Luna and had seriously considered participating in her #100daysproject but hadn't yet, so I picked it up this beautiful book and took a peak.  

"In my own life, I've found that things appear at the ideal time.
Not before. And not after. Consider the possibility that this book
made its way into your hands because you wanted it to." pg. xi

This was first page I read ... 

I bought the book and dove in.

This book is about dreams; 'must' over 'should'; just doing; following your passions; 

a journey that I fervently believe in and one which I wholeheartedly want my daughters to follow.  

This book talks about all the possible pitfalls and/or sucesses that come from following your inner voice, but that in the end it is the only choice that will make one feel alive.

  

So with Elle Luna's words empowering me and the knowledge of how she found her must by creating a 100days project, I decided that I will parcel off my thoughts and advice to Maya over the next 100 days.

 I am going to start my own personal 100 day project, sharing my thoughts and advice with my daughter as she embarks on this new chapter of her personal journey.

 I will post said nuggets on my 'dailydressproject' blog, now called #100daysofmotherlove. 

(there is a link to this blog in the header or just click here) 

And even though I love!! the idea of a book, when I really think about the receipiant, a child of the computer age, posting on a blog seems more appropriate.  

In fact most likely I should do this all on tumblr ... but I don't know how. 

But first, let me start by saying how ultimately proud I am of my eldest, navigating her first 18 years as a bushwhacker, teaching her parents what it means to parent, and as an ambassador for her little sister, and surviving.  

When Maya entered this world I knew that she was/is an old soul. She knows much and has much to learn.  So I offer these 100 posts as some guidelines, sign posts, suggestions.  I don't have answers but, I do have passions and dreams and some experience which I want to share. 

And to Maya,

Buckle up, travel safe!!!  

love you more!!!! Mom!!!

http://dailydressproject.blogspot.com