Autumn

Autumn. it is one of my favorite times of year. hence why I got married in Fall. I also had my son in the fall. Autumn is a strange beautiful part of the year. everything is dying. the leaves change colour and fall off the trees. the cooler temperatures mark the end of summer. we begin anticipating the long cold winter. it doesn't feel like time for celebrating.
  Yet there is a cool freshness to the air. there is no heaviness in the air. the sun seems strong yet not overpowering. the plants are dying yet there is a new beauty to them. with less outdoor activity there is more time to quilt. draw. socialize inside with friends.

   Autumn is about change. how many of us welcome change? Change is what inspires us. change challenges us. without change life would be the same. we would continue in the same way we have done in the past. we remain comfortable. life is easy. we assume what will happen next.
  We need change. change is stressful. but change is necessary for growth. with change we are forced to make new decisions, we step out of our comfortable areas. change enables us to respond in new ways. change makes us learn new aspects of ourselves. there have been many changes for me in the last year. I did not welcome them. my son has gone through many changes, because of mental health- and the family with him. Yet without this challenge, he would not have found more about who he wants to be - in life, with friends, as a career. He has learned to stand up for himself, and to recognize his own weaknesses and strengths. But so too the family - we have learned to listen more to each other, to recognize that talking and conversing and arguing is okay- letting it out is the more important role right now.
   I have begun to teach and share Zentangles. I have learned that I love sharing with others. I have acknowledged that art can be a powerful tool and healer. I have learned that I have a power that I did not know I had. And I must embrace it and not abuse it.
  Change will continue to happen. It is how we respond that makes a difference to us and those around us. How will you respond? in the meantime, zentangle a response!

Classes

Contact me to find the right class for you. I can also create a class to fit your needs.
deb@kopeschny.ca

Freedom

Freedom - what does that mean to you? As I was driving to work the other day - to my desk job, as they say, i was listening to one of my favorite singers; Janis Joplin (did you know she died at 27?). Her song "me and bobby mcgee" was on. The words resonated with me,

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,

Nothing, that's all that Bobby left me, yeah,

But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,

Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee"

Freedom  - all attachments gone - just happiness. I think of jealousy, our feelings and beliefs of inadequacy, illness and pain, and realise that much of this is just ourselves wanting more, believing we need to have - in order to be happy. Jesus said to the rich young man, "after following the ten commandments, you must sell all your things and give them to the poor, and then you will have everlasting life".

Happiness and freedom is not necessarily the ability to do what we want, to have what we want, to make our own decisions - Freedom is the ability to say "I am complete with God, as I am now."

Zentangles are freedom too, while working within the process, you can create without any fear of rules. There are no expectations to the result - it is all good.

may you live in freedom, deb

Today is a new day

Have you enjoyed the wonderful fall weather? We've biked, gone on walks, sat by the fire. It is a nice continuance of the summer relaxation.

But I've also been full steam ahead with Tangle classes, cooking for work, quilting, and supporting family and church. I always find myself very busy. Hmm.

I have had enquiries from people in North part of New York state, London, On., and Waterford, On. I hope that I can accommodate these requests for experiencing the art of Zentangles. If you are in these areas, let me know and I will be able to add you to the contacts for these area venues.

As for recent class works, here are some great Zentangles from the latest class at the A.M. Milton Gallery.  Wonderful work and excitement.

As well I have completed a quilting project I started in June. The Sewing Machine Factory Outlet referred a lady to me, for possibly creating quilts out of her mother's clothes. Although a task like this is often tedious, I have a soft spot for supporting people through grief. In the meantime, this ladies brother also died. And so I incorporating his clothes into the quilts as well. I tried to create a feeling of brightness in the center to express the hope that we can feel despite the grief that often accompanies the "passing" of a close person.
Comments are appreciated.

enjoy your moments, you'll never see them again.

Fun Inspirational Classes

I have had two excellent classes. the first class was with some newbies who have wondered what Zentangles are about. It was an intimate small group, which was relaxing and exciting at the same time. Here are their tangles.

Next post will have the next set of photos from my group of artists at the Milton A.M. gallery who zentangled into the zone.
Tangle on.
deb

Classes

Greetings friends
My next class will be at the a.m. Gallery in the Milton Mall. The class will be for advanced Tanglers, on Sept. 22, from 7-9 p.m. I will be sharing some new tangles and we will look at breaking down the patterns around us to include in our work.
If you would like to join us, email me at deb@kopeschny.ca

On October 1st, I will host a Zentangle for Quilters class. We will explore practicing tangles, and how this will help your quilting. More ideas around where you can use tangles, and transferring your new ideas into your quilting will be shared.

I look forward to having you join me. Zentangles will help expand your creativity at the same time as reducing your blood pressure.. isn't that cool?!
Here are some photos of tangles from 1 of my classes.

Create on

You are power!

Do you know that time between awakefulness and sleep? Well that is the best brainstorming time for me. My mind drifts from one thing to the next. This time is when my quilt problems and design dillemmas are solved. This is when I realise what my next focus will be, either in my business or in my personal life. This is the time when I realise my potential.


Last night was no exception. I have been reading "Anatomy of the Spirit" by Caroline Myss, on recognizing the connection between illness and our own physical, emotional and spiritual energies. The most recent discussion has been thinking about the "second chakra" which is the description of our personal power. This discussion has been so connected to one of my all time favorite quotes from Nelson Mandela, which is:


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. 

And so, in my half awake mind I made this wonderful connection of how we live must recognize our own power. How often do we recognize that we have "power"? How often do we acknowledge that we are an energy being that carries that positive or negative energy to everything thing we do and participate in - whether it is discussing how to raise our children, or standing in line at the grocery store.  Once we acknowledge this power, we can realise how much we affect. Once again, we are usually shy about what we can affect - how can I really change the atmosphere in my house? in my workplace?how much do I really have power over? Is the world affecting me? or me affecting the world? But really - our energy affects EVERYTHING. We have immeasurable power and energy. Even the air we breathe. If I accept that how I be affects others (and myself), that I have a power, unspoken and subconscious - that can change everything around us, then I can realise the enormous power and responsibility I have to consciously positively be.


Once again, acknowledge you are power - Live knowing your power - Live placing all your acts with Intention. 


This also is well expressed in Zentangles. In Zentangles, we sit down, not knowing what potential might happen, but knowing it is there. Accepting it. and placing every stroke on the paper with intention. Like in life, knowing that each stroke will affect the next. And realising that I have the power to place that stroke, and to participate in life and in my own power, and experience with purpose and responsibilitiy.


Here is one of my recent intentional drawings.

Enjoy!
p.s. Next Zentangle 101 workshop will be on Saturday, September 18, 2010, from 1-3p.m. at 4 Manorwood Road. 
Next Advanced Zentangle workshop will be on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, from 7-9p.m. at the Art Gallery, in the Milton Mall, Milton Ontario. Let me know if you would like to join us.