Blogging the bleurgh out

 

This blog has been many things to me over the years, and probably been different things to each of you too. It has survived (just) a change of host, a change of url, a variety of creative pursuits, five jobs and two study periods; not to mention all the highs and lows of that any life contains. Kel's Space has gone from a time before Facebook (before Facebook, people) when blogs were far less common and people at work would have no idea what you were talking about if you mentioned your blog; to a time when, chances are, the company you work for has a blog.

So it's no surprise that I've lost my voice more than once over the years. A blog needs a voice, a purpose, a direction to survive; the roots that support the trunk and all the branches. I want to find this again, and with the help of Susannah Conway, I hope to. She's running a class, Blogging from the Heart, over the next 6 weeks (and again in the autumn if you're interested!) that sets out to help us with just that.

Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope to reward your loyalty in the weeks and months to come.

2012 is underway

We got back from our Nova Scotia trip yesterday. We had a wonderful visit and it ended up feeling longer than expected, in all the right ways. While I love Christmas, I tend to be more inspired by the new year. Today is First Saturday Scrapping, so when I get back later I should have all kinds of bits and pieces to show you from my December Daily album (Ali Edwards' project) and the beginnings of my work on Twelve (taught by Stacy Julian).

The end of an era

Perhaps only if you've been to Artfest you will understand why this image fills my heart with peace. Walking back to Officers' Housing after breakfast, catching deer grazing on the green, I am quietly filled with joy as I know that I am surrounded by so many beautiful, creative souls, each on their own pursuit of something virtually indescribable. About to dive into a day filled with art, with finding friends both new and those known only across the wires of cyberspace.

I was saddened today to read that Teesha Moore has decided that Artfest 2012 will be the last. She explains it so beautifully in the announcement on her blog, that I do believe she has made the right choice. I am grieving though. As for so many others, my first visit to Artfest changed my life (saved my life?). I have found friends and mentors and a whole community so very dear to me, so very necessary. I have found courage and direction and the tools I need to follow them, even when I'm not sure where they will lead me. So yes, I'm grieving, gently, and with curiousity and optimism about what the future will bring.

And I am so grateful to have been part of something so wonderful, and to have crossed paths with so many wonderful people, many of whom have been guiding lights to me, knowingly or not. Thank you, Teesha and Tracy.

Teesha Moore

Tracy Moore

Judy Wise

Carla Sonheim

Liz Lamoreux

LK Ludwig

Anahata Katkin

Susan Wooldridge

Anne Bagby

Theo Ellsworthy

Dawn DeVries Sokol

And there are so many more, but these have had an impact on my life in a way that I can put my finger on in a very specific way. If you were here I could show you. I may have to yet.