146/365: The Art of Friendship

Today I made:

a friend smile... (and that could very well be my favorite thing)

Don't you just love when the Universe sends someone your way to remind you that you're on exactly the right path right when you need it? I got a call from one of my favorite people in the world today and she did just that.

This particular friend came into my life when my focus and purpose were very different than they are today. Years ago, we were student teachers together and then newbie teachers at our first school. My creative passions were still dormant. We both spent most of our creative energy on building happy classrooms where children wanted to learn. Since then, she has watched me stumble and attempt to reinvent myself when the "five year plan" took on a life of its own. She has never questioned my flighty tendencies and is endlessly supportive, even when I don't know exactly what I'm doing. I so admire her energy and commitment to what she does. This giant-hearted woman has inspired so many children to be lifelong learners. And she has mastered the art of friendship. I am absolutely beside myself at the thought of being able to inspire her in return and am so touched that my efforts here have resonated with her.

No matter how doubtful or isolated or in my own head I feel some days, I need to acknowledge that this is all unfolding as naturally and peacefully as it should, just like a strong friendship does. This is the ripple effect I was hoping for. Those first few rings closest to the center help build the initial momentum and ensure that the ripples spread. Those rings are the encouraging words, the gentle nudges, the sharing of gratitude and spreading of messages by friends who believe in us. Passion grows because of them. Today my purpose behind this creative undertaking is rekindled. Thank you, Mel.

145/365: A Season for Making

Today we made:

a night of it...
My art partners and I spent the evening planning creative holiday workshops over a cozy dinner.
Curry butternut squash soup with salad and baked brie, talk of ornaments and crafty gifts...my belly is content and my head is filled with big kid art projects.
Goodnight moon. This will be a happy season for making.

144/365: Promise of Another Beach

Today I made:
a souvenir for a dear friend...

143/365: Ave del Sol

Today I made:
note to self #4...

142/365: Seaport Village

Today I made:

a study of line and light...

141/365: In Her Heart She Already Knows

Today I made:
an expression in clay and paint...

140/365: I Knew You When...

Today we made:

up for lost time...

Today one of my oldest and dearest friends arrived for a long weekend visit. We met in second grade and did a lot of growing up together. We hadn't seen each other since high school (that's getting to be an awfully long time ago). We reconnected on Facebook a couple years ago and finally got to sit and chat face to face over a glass of wine tonight, sharing stories and filling in gaps.

This picture was taken before C and I grew into our teeth...
and before we grew out of: sewing doll clothes and putting on fashion shows, puff painting t-shirts, making up our own silly lyrics to pop songs, drawing elaborate treasure maps for our little brothers, designing lunch menus based on foods of a certain color, writing love letters to boys we'd never meet, and building forts that lasted the whole weekend.

I know this for sure, we will never grow out of that childhood friendship or those imaginations. I think we witnessed the birth of one another's creative spirits, back when we were young and wild and free enough to pretend to be anything we wanted to be. She is still helping me do that today and I am ever so grateful.