Do you long for time to be creative? Maybe even dream of supplementing your family's income using your creative gifts? I often feel that my relationship with deep, uninterrupted creative work is elusive. So close - yet so far away! It's like we are at the same party but on opposite sides of the room. Close enough to make eyes at each other, but all I can do is smile and wave. And if I do finally make it through the maze of needs and ...
What's Working For Me
Creativity Loves Limits – Good News for Creative Moms
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitation." - Orson Welles Do you need some good news today? Let me tell you about an artist I just discovered on the TED screen. His name is Phil Hansen, and he is pretty dang incredible. As an art student, Phil used a particular pointillist style he’d developed with great success. Tragically, because of the intense hand movements required to make all of those perfect little points, he ...
How Time In Nature Helps Me Be A Better Mom
We all want it. That deep assurance that "today I truly connected with my child". That knowing smile between mother and child; the shared experience carved deep in our hearts and minds. It can be so elusive in our distraction-filled world. But I have found a secret to making those moments happen more often - even daily. The secret is so simple, requires no money and actually very little time. The secret is simply exploring ...
How the Amazon Echo is Saving My Sanity
Am I really doing a whole post about this electronic device? Yes, yes I am. I am not on the Echo advertising team (although I should be...I tell everyone about this!). I just had to share. I'm always looking for ways to simplify so I can have more reserves for creativity. This little device really has helped in that department. The day "Alexa" (this is the Echo's name...kind of like Apple's "Siri") arrived, I inwardly ...
12 Movies That Inspire Me To Be A Better Wife
As you have probably figured out by now, here at Lily and Thistle, I like to write about two things: Family and Art/Creativity. I have an awesome Resource Library full of goodies to help you as you strive to grow in both of those areas. But, sometimes you just want to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch a good, inspiring movie! So, with Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I'd share some of my favorite ...