A virtual...

...blog tour

Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings. 

C.D. Jackson

When my friend Kim over at PickingPoppies invited me to participate in a virtual blog tour, I jumped at the chance-always looking for a fun way to share ideas in this very creative and inspirational blogging community. Kim is very thought provoking and a wonderful photographer to boot & I invite you to visit her little corner of the blogging world.

The same four questions are asked from participants:

What am I working on?

Immediately, I'm focusing on getting through the last 18 days of school. As I was thinking about how I was going to answer these questions, I realized  that everyday, 100+ people get the very best of my creative mojo leaving me with little to spare for myself when I get home from work. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do as an instructional aide to 1st & 3rd graders. BUT, I am a TOTAL morning person and that's when I want to play! With summer coming, & my mornings to myself, I will turn my attention to my

 ETSY store 

which I finally took the time open back in Feb. but not taking the time to run it properly. I've been saving all the emails that ETSY SUCCESS sends me so that I can get a grasp on running a successful business. With that said, I'll be removing and adding new items before summer is over. 

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

This is a tough question as I've only ever thought about established and famous artists that either they themselves or society have categorized them into a particular genre.

I would say I'm in the "authentic and true to self" genre.

(I'm making this an official genre so please feel free to insert yourself here!)

I only know how to be one person and that's me...being the best I can be everyday. Now that's not to say that I've arrived  at this moment by taking bits and pieces of what I think is the very best from others! But what you see in the here and now is as real as real gets!

Why do I write/create what I do?

I write and create because I have a lot to say & want to share it and hopefully along the way, 

people will identify and maybe even like what I have to say. It's always been a personal goal of mine to put something out there that can stand on its own merit.

 It's as simple as that. 

 

How does your writing/creative process work?

A little back ground first before I answer this.

My family moved around every 2 1/2 - 3 years with the Navy and while that was great, looking back, I did not have the best school experience. I actually hated school. As an adult I have taken full responsibility for my learning or lack of. It has taken me becoming a mother & an educator working with children that I have found a deep love of learning...Still and always. Believe it or not, listening & modeling after the teachers I work with has given back what I've lost as a child in constant transition. Silly as it sounds, I am developing my skills here, in full view of anyone who happens to stumble into my little corner of the

 blog-o-sphere.  

When it comes to writing or taking photos, it always starts with an idea-sometimes it pans out, other times not so much! I've learned since I've started my creative process is

 "be flexible." 

I can't stress that enough! I am a self proclaimed queen of happy accidents and thankfully I've loosened  the reins of trying to be perfect & can recognize that sometimes something else is better and it's ok. I tell "my kids" all the time, "there are no mistakes in art" so make it work. I figured it was time to start taking my own advice. 

Trust the process

There you have it my friends! Me & my thoughts!

 Next week I give you 2 wonderful blogger/friends that you'll no doubt want to visit again and again.

You can visit Kathy here:

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out 

 Moi?  Photog, wife, mom, daughter, friend, chauffeur, dork, reality show junkie, shoe maven, frequent flier mile collector, deprived (and at times depraved) traveller, baseball fanatic, Philly gal, always finding a new black hole of obsession to jump into, hates change, embraces change...surprisingly confusing to the Better-Half.  Would love for you to tag along for photos and ramblings of a Philly gal.  Take the photos seriously, the meanderings...not so much.

You can visit Roban here:

Moments in Time

Roban Johnson is a mixed-media artist and photographer who enjoys capturing 
moments in time that remind her of the joy and beauty in the world around her. 
Her mixed-media girls originate from her own feelings and often share a thought 
of inspiration or an emotion that she hopes is captured in the painting. Her 
photographs are snapshots of time that not only chronicle life but also the 
little things that make life beautiful. 

Happy snapping!

xo

Kelly