I am here to dance out loud!

Dance. My passion, my life. my next MMM project?? hehhee... I was very excited to read the theme "Dance" from http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/ because I am a dancer. The theme "dance" seemed vast and so many ways for me to personally interpret it. However, I found myself doing pirouettes around one idea. The idea that I have to celebrate myself as an artist and as a dancer. Its hard to recognize oneself. We tend to look out ward for recognition. For validation. So this was a special opportunity for me to take that therapeutic step in saying, yes I see who I am, by and for myself.

I am a competitive dancer. not just with myself, but I enter in bellydance competitions. (ahem... outward seeking of validation) Some I have won, others I have lost. Its hard, as a full time dancer, who is also in a dance company, to continually put up the strength and determination that is needed to repeatedly enter into competitions. Being at the mercy of the judges' tastes, style and mood at the moment is hard on a performer who pours her heart out onstage. especially if its a repeated loss. As a dancer, I start to wonder, am I good enough, am I doing my best...if I only had alittle more time to rehearse, if only I were younger, better, faster at choreography...if my stomach could flutter, if my beck bends were deeper, if I were best friends with the judges...the "what if" list is endless.

Bottom line, is that my fears and insecurities can sometimes hold back my creativity and success. when Iam under a time pressure to create a choreography that will impress the judges and show off my best skills while not forgoing my personal expression, I can sometimes lose faith. I cry. I collapse. physically and emotionally.

During these heart aching times, I turn to my other source of inspiration and creativity. And that's my paper crafting. I use it to remind myself that I AM an Artist! Outside of dancing, I also create. I get my mind off of movement and into paint, glitter, stickers, glue, tiny objects, pretty and ugly papers. TEXTURE, SHAPES, a visual stimuli... a subconscious creation. I don't "think" too much on "how to do it", I just play. Creating my little art thingies...that's my therapy so I can continue dancing and giving my gift to the world. Getting "paper crafty" is my way of recharging so I can step onto the stage and say "hello world, I am here to Dance out Loud! and dance it well! It doesnt matter if my art is good or bad, because it helps to make my dancing even better. (It DOES matter if my dancing is good or bad!)

So with all this said, I made alittle shrine to the artist in me. To remind myself when I get scared, doubtful, and insecure that my true self is strong, determined, driven, and dedicated to living my dream. Living the experience of a lifetime. MY lifetime. The life of a dancer. not part time, not hobbyist, but a full time living breathing, dancer. And that's a blessing and a privilege. Thanks to the support of my boyfriend and mother.I am blessed. I am living my childhood dream.

So, cheers to all the Artists, who continue to "do" even when they think they "cant". Keep the faith. Keep creating. Live YOUR dream. Never stop.

I am here to Dance out loud! I am the Artist! For once, its me.

The "stage" is the backside of a canvas. and the gold "orchestra pit" fence is actually one of my beaded bellydance arm bands that I straitened out. Thanks for reading :)

Twinchies! wednesday stamper

I've never made a twinchie before...much less made one at the same time as my boyfriend! we had fun making these together. ( he had never made one either) so thanks to http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/ we did!! we really liked using the memory glass and foil tape. I see it alot of it in my near future :)

I was sorta bummed that my crackle paint didnt crackle enough. oh well. it crackled a tiny bit. maybe it was too thin a coat. And below is my boyfriends' creation called Thanks Pyrgi. It was his second time making something crafty :) he did a good job! This size of canvas was so charming, I can see why folks get hooked on making these little guys...they are adorable!

Creating Treasures with Squirrel

Life just doesnt get any sweeter then when my boyfrined decided he wanted to craft with me! he has endured countless trips to Michaels, scrapbooking stores and conventions, and has seen and admired my creations. He set up my studio, made it look fantastic, and workable, he has supported my art inclinations from the very start. and now, he himself has decided to dip his brush in the mixed media inkpot....so with much pride I introduce to you, the debut of his first ATC : 'Venus Hides'

I am very proud and enthusiastic because the very next day we did a challenge from Wednesday Stamper called Twinchies. He did another interesting piece of work entitiled: Thank Pyrgi

he used the 2x2 memory glass and stamped on vellum. the 2's look as if they are floating between the vellum and the background paper which he clipped directly from a book he is reading on alphabets!

*Good job my love! I treasure your creations and the time we spent together making them.*

and while he made those, I made these...(I also made a twinchie but that will be posted later)

Beneath the Midnight Sea: an altered book

Beneath the Midnight Sea...my first altered book inspire by the "By The Sea" challange at MMM.

This little booka; was tons of fun to make. I used the H2O's watercolor paints but the glimmer doesnt get captured on the photos. too bad. the cover sea horse was actually a pendant.

inside, I pasted the sandcastle in the corner and the dolphins heading towards it. actually, all the embellishments are beads! even the silver photo frame is meant for a bracelet. i stamped on the sea weed and used an irredescent embossing powder.
To finish my boyfrined wrote the concluding phrase on vellum, while my modest mermaid looks on...