For me, it is usually not having images. Either I'm been making art, but not photographing it. Or I have stuff to say about life, creativity and everything else, but I don't have an image ready to illustrate it.

I'll try and catch up today. I have a remodelled bookcover for a journal inspired by Nova Scotia. I have prints from the rubber stamps I've carved since spring. I have sketches I worked on in NS too. And I have to pull it all together into a project due in 2 weeks.

Speaking of Nova Scotia, home of my soul, one of the Atlantic provinces of Canada...
We have the opportunity to visit and explore there next summer, along with the chance to take classes with some amazing teachers. It's going to be about 60 people in a lovely inn in a beautiful location.Lesley Riley, LK Ludwig, Judy Wilkenfeld and Claudine Hellmuth will each be teaching two two-day classes at the retreat. It's mainly journalling, which I love. Just look how lush the classes are...

(The images come from the Art and Soul Retreat website and are the property of each of the artists. Hover over them for the artist and class title, or click to see the workshop description.)

I haven't added Claudine Hellmuth's images because they are in a different format, but she is teaching Collage Discovery Workshop and Waxing Poetic.

I'm taking Collage Discovery workshop with Claudine Hellmuth and The Poetic Moment with LK Ludwig. I can't wait.

I have a lot of art in my head right now, so why is it that all day long I find nonsensical little boring things to do to keep me away from my art table? Then I go to bed, having run out of time, and lie awake designing book pages and print designs in my head. If I don't work the next day, fine, sometimes I get up and work.

After a year away from full-time work, I have realised that I do need some routine, as much as I rail against it. I have set up my work week this year so that I have less room for procrastination. I'll have two early mornings and Monday - Wednesday will be divided between my art classes and work. Then I'll have Thursday and Friday most weeks for artwork for my course, other artwork and the admin of art.

For your entertainment, a photo of me working on my sofa when I don't have my artspace tidy enough to work in.

... and they just resonated with me so deeply.

"I could tell you about how I've decided to dream larger than life...because over and over again I am learning that life is as good as we allow it to be."

So true, don't you think?