Didn’t blog yesterday! A lost opportunity! However I did some watercolor and pen sketching. Good start… on getting back into it. And I studied mixed media a bit – got inspired by Squidoo lenses and YouTube videos and Pinterest. Fun!! I love mixed media, and will focus on that as I go forward with my artistic adventure. I’ve just moved my easel across the room and hope that will help me start making progress again. I have a lot of poster boards that I want to use… little ones… and I’ll use them all for mixed media practice. It is practice that makes art real.

Same with writing! Daily writing practice creates a sense of comfort with the skills involved. When doing a first draft, it is important to abandon the internal editor. “Aunt Mandy, go away! I’m writing!” Expel that editor and suddenly you can go wild with your writing and create something truly unique and daring.

I know someone who has managed to dispel the inner critic and be the amazing person that she is – the San Francisco recording artist (and photographer, and writer, and life-coach) LoriB. I have known her online several years, met her during NaNoWriMo a few years back, and met her in person last October. A blessing! I love unique and non-conformist people who are creative explorers, and that, she definitely is, in every aspect of her life.

Today is another opportunity to practice being that creative explorer personality… and let me tell you, friend, that’s all there is. We’re not about perfection and reaching the stars. We’re only about practicing the arts that rock our souls. A great resource that teaches that principal… and if you haven’t seen it – I very much recommend you get a copy while they’re still available: The 5 Keys to Mastery – one of my favorite inspirational and motivational DVDs, put together by David Lent and George Leonard, who also wrote a book by the same name. You will see great artists, scientists, athletes, and others explain how they focused their practice in order to achieve something great.

It is all about the focus, and the practice, and the love of your chosen art.

I have a friend who refuses to practice writing. He believes that someday he will wake up 100% motivated and will write a novel in a hot flash. I hope it happens for him, but all the novelists I know spend a lot of time practicing and learning what makes writing great. We don’t suddenly become great novelists. Most of us work hard for many years practicing and developing our writing techniques… just as with other arts.

After all, you don’t suddenly wake up one day to discover you can play the trombone like a virtuoso. At least, most of us don’t. I won’t say it can’t be done…

My intention this year is to focus my creative practice and I’m choosing to do that with mixed media, watercolor, and writing for children and teens. The art will be used to illustrate my books. I already have two books in progress needing these illustrations: Ciara and the Fairies and Oja. So for my work as a writer of children’s literature, I need to develop my artistic skills as well.

Today I went to the big city to get my van repaired. We live in the boonies so a trip to the city is always fun. It takes two hours to get there along a winding river road. In the big city you get to see people you’ve never seen before. Seeing people you actually know is rare. It is the opposite in my small town. Here, you see mostly people you know and have known for years, and occasionally see people you’ve never seen before.

If you’re a visitor to a small town now you know why people may look at you with a strange expression. It isn’t because we’re unfriendly – it is more likely that we just wonder who you are. On the whole most people in our small town welcome newcomers. We like having new neighbors in our town, so long as you’re a trustworthy-looking type of person. If you look a bit scary, perhaps your reception might not be quite as welcoming. We all want to live in peace and security, you know?

When you meet a person that’s new to you, there’s a breaking-in period. I start out reserved. I’m not outgoing except with people I know well. Still I do love to experience new people. You get a mix of energies, a discovery of new thoughts, and plenty of inspiration.

Today we walked past an industrial building in Yreka – the owner had a yard sale going and my partner wanted the old TV. The man came out right away to see what we needed. He was soft-spoken yet helpful in connecting the TV to electricity so my partner could see it worked. Overall, the sense of depression pervaded his spirit. As we talked it was apparent that he was frustrated as well due to the yard sale gestapo in his town. He explained he had a temporary permit to sell, but that the police were harassing people having yard sales, and others trying to make a few humble dollars at the roadside selling oranges, t-shirts, or whatever they could. “After all,” he said, “Walmart needs the money more.” (Sarcasm intended.)

Too many regulations! I know, because I live in this county and own a small (very small) business. Business licenses cost $76 dollars per year here. Totally ridiculous for a one-person business bringing in barely enough to live on. Not so ridiculous for Walmart. Totally outrageous for a yard sale! I know the county is experiencing financial problems but perhaps laying off the child-grabbing gestapo anti-social workers at CPS is a better idea than taking away any opportunity for struggling people to earn a bit of extra money.

While in Yreka I ate at a local family style restaurant. I ordered french toast. For six dollars, I got two slices of bread, french toast style. Only two slices? I was appalled that they charged so much for so little. I will not go back. For six dollars you might expect some hash browns on the side, or something reasonable to make it worthwhile. When you’re in business, give people a good deal and they will patronize you again and again. Yes, I know restaurants are hurting for money too, but that’s no reason to rip people off.

I’m glad I work as an affiliate marketer for Amazon, through Squidoo and my own websites. At least I know that people buying from Amazon are usually getting the best prices available. I buy from Amazon frequently. Since I live in the remote boonies there are no big box stores there to suck up my money. Recently I joined Amazon Prime – which costs only $79 per year. For that, I get free 2-day shipping on everything I order. On top of that, I get ‘free’ Kindle downloads on many good books, and ‘free’ online viewing of many excellent movies. Not exactly free, because I purchased the Amazon Prime coverage . . . but still, lots of opportunities at one convenient price. That’s value and that’s one more wonderful thing about Amazon.

People don’t like being price-gouged, even when they can afford it. Give your customers and clients a good deal and they will appreciate you more. Their friendship is far better than their ire. Think of the vibrations you’re producing from those you interact with.

Just like I picked up on the depressed vibration of the man who sold my partner a TV, you are sub-consciously picking up on vibrations from those you interact with. If your customers love you, you’ll get good vibes headed your way. If your customers are upset with your prices, product, or service, you’ll get bad vibes headed your way. And nobody needs bad vibes.

Are you unable to sense those vibes? Please do not think you can’t do it. Sit quietly with your eyes closed and feel. How do you feel? That is the question! If you’re feeling upbeat and happy, content, and at ease, chances are you’re generating good vibes. However if you feel depressed, distressed, angry, frustrated, or uncomfortable, you’ve probably got bad vibes aimed in your direction. If that’s the case, there are things that can be done to change the vibrations that affect you negatively. Try dowsing. Ever heard of Raymon Grace?