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My dear friend Anu asked me to blog about 10 random things you might not know about me, as she did on her blog.
You know how much I love making lists about everything and anything 😉

1. I am Metis. But this term has a different meaning here in North America than it has in France though (you would say «biracial» when we use the word «metis»). I don’t consider myself «Black». But I definately am not «White» either. I have a hard time fitting in a racial box.
2. I love eating a banana with Nutella. Mix discovered in middle school from my bff at this time.
3. I have a focusing issue and it is impossible for me to do/concentrate on one or two things only. I scatter a lot.
4. I have an obsession for my totem animals: owl, raven, whale, elephant.
5. I have a book project started since a few years now.
6. I have lots of artists crushes. And when it happens I tend to stalk everything they do.
7. My best friends are scattered all over the globe, and despite technology I feel desperately lonely most of the time. I would love/need local girlfriends.
8. I did one year of music theory, and hated it but was the best of my class. My teacher told my mom I was a «natural». But I did not have the chance to actually learn how to play an instrument. And for months it has been quite bothering me somehow. I really want to learn how to play the drums, and piano. There is something with rythm that obsesses me.
9. I love love love finding an handwritten card/letter in the mail, and to receive packages.
10. I have a passion for tattoos. I have a few and always think of the next one(s). That said, they have to have a symbolic and special meaning for me. I had my first tattoo when I was 15-16, and my mom was with me when I was getting inked.

Your turn ! tell me random stuff I don’t know about you, I want to get to know my readers 🙂 If you blog about it, please feel free to come back with your link.

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Hello !

See, I really try to become more consistant again in sharing my Gratitude Friday on a weekly basis ! 😉

I am actually cheating a little bit as I am writing this the day before, to be sure not to forget and then being too caught up in something else (like trying not to be on the computer that much, and instead being in my studio or with my girls).

This week, I am grateful for:

• Payday this week for the Cheridoo, we will breathe a bit more.
• Possibility to adjust our mortgage payments with paydays so we can manage our finances more easily.
• It alsost feels like summer most of the time. It’s good when rain becomes rarer.
• We’ll do a «garage sale» at the school. Good to meet families, decluttering, and for the girls to make a bit of pocket money.
• I’ve shared two new videos on YouTube (see at the end of this post).
• The online classes from Mindy Lacefield and from Christy Tomlinson are really what I am needing right now, both for my creativity and my personal journey. Making a good impact on me. And I am noticing a theme that is hitting me currently, making its come back. Sharing my story. To be continued…
• I received the original painting I’ve bought from Danielle Daniel. So amazing. I have to find the perfect frame to go with it.
• I’ve received my Nexus Card.
• I am really liking what I am creating. Things are shifting I tell you.
• I love love love love love when Cheridoo works from home. And now he even has a room for himself.
• We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. Simply but with plenty of love and tenderness. And every year, my mom sends us a card to tell us how she is happy for us, this matters a lot to me.
• Mamounette and all she does for us. We are blessed. I miss her terribly.
• I have FINALLY started the Caster Chronicles book and am currently reading «Beautiful Creatures». I have been able to stay spoiler free (as I was when I read the Harry Potter saga cover to cover, not knowing what happens after book 5). I am loving it ! The last book will be released this year so I won’t have too much to wait (this is why I hate this new trend of publishing sagas with one book a year over like 3+ years).

If you missed it, here is my last {Painting In Motion} video, «Transform»:

And the video I’ve made for my mom so she would have an idea of my creative studio. It was made almost a month ago so yes, now it is a bit more organazied (but there are still too much stuff on the floor :():

Wishing you a wonderful week-end !

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
[linkme]

I made a decision a few months ago to document our daily life more. I wanted to do Project Life, and even began. But got caught up in not having the right material (ie. create some cards). I bought a Selphy printer and an Instax wide (love them !) to make it easier as well.
Becky Higgins just annouced she is revamping all her products, so in a way I think it’s a good thing I did not buy any of it yet !

However, I do take more photos of our daily life, either with my iPhone or with real cameras.

I thought I could share a bit of these pictures, as they are part of my creative inspiration and fuel my soul.

Gratitude Friday is a weekly ritual I started in order to focus on all the small and big positive things that happened during my week. I invite you to join me, you’ll see how much being thankful can change your life. If you want to know more about it, read my introduction post.

Hello !

Life is a mess. And tough. The last few weeks have been the hardest of my life, but I know it will get better. We will make it easier and safer.

I wish I had a magical wand to help out my friends in need, all I can do is listen and answer with love and tenderness; even though I know it is unfortunately not enough. But I try.
Being present is still an amazing gift to the people you love.

This week, I am thankful for:

• My new {Painting In Motion} video. You can watch it here and know more about it.
• My mom.
• Fibromyalgia for teaching me so much. Lessons are learned in pain, but still.
• My oven, still learning again how to cook with gas though, lots of adjustments being made.
• Fresh homemade bread. You really should check this book out, it changes our life. I have their book about pizza and now have frozen dough ready to be used.
• My Creative Hollow (ie. my art studio).
• I was able to sign up for Anna Dabrowska‘s layout class at Clipper Street. I would have loved to be part of her Mixed Media class but Life decided otherwise, I am still happy to be able to learn from her, and hopefully connect with creative local people at the same time.
• Grenouille’s new school. I know my girls will be happy there. Koala can’t wait to go to school, she does not like that much being with me all the time lol
• Chai Latte. I’ve found 3 Starbucks chai at Costco for the price of one. A treat I do everyday to myself.
• My bro’ invited me (us) to his wedding, even if he knew we could not make it because of the high price of plane tickets to France. The same with my cousin.
• Being back to an healthier lifestyle, exercising and eating better. However, I am still struggling with finding the right diet for me.
• I love the Studio Calico monthly kits I signed up for.
• Mindy Lacefield online class comes to an end, it was amazing. I am looking to the videos regularly and the community gathered around it is very amazing. You can know register for the class at your own pace (yaaay).
• I was also able to purchase a second original painting from the amazing Danielle Daniel. Can’t wait to receive it. If only plane tickets were cheaper, I would fly to attend her exhibition in Québec in a few months…

When life is yucky, find a few minutes to look at it differently. What made you smile ? What makes you feel better ? Soak in these feelings of joy and blessings. It will make it easier, I promise <3

If you wrote your Gratitude Friday on your blog, don’t forget to enter your NAME and URL below so I’m notified and can come to read you (you can also join by commenting this post):
[linkme]

My Creative Hollow (ie my home art studio) is far from being really done, but it’s okay. I even have decided that the non-finished painted walls are kinda great like they are (the top edges are not painted), it gives a sense of «in progress» I like, actually.

But I really was needing to get back to painting and art journaling, after a 3-week break. My husband and my mom made me noticed that it was beginning to really affect my mood.

I wanted to do a new {Painting in Motion} video for ages and to record the first painting created in this new beginning that is our life here.

I finally pointed out also what was causing the creative hole I was in: I want to paint on big surfaces and feel constricted on my usual sizes (8×10″ and such). But I want to use the surfaces I already have so it won’t lay around here for ever.
I will also probably listen to my husband’s advice and use the old canvases used but that I don’t like and re-do them. What’s on it will serve as a start for texture and color, and we’ll see what’ll happen from there. Promise to be interesting !

I am currently in the amazing Mindy Lacefield online class (finishing this week 🙁 BUT she will soon be offering an «at your own pace» version of it, for those of you who wanted to wait a bit etc) called «Paint your story».
I really don’t regret spending my money on this. She is a fabulous teacher and the community gathered in her class is just fantastic. What she teaches us in the class is centered around play, finding again how to let our 7yo self out while painting and creating.

You know how building meaningful artwork is dear to my heart, and this is really the class I needed for that. To get the permission to use bold colors and symbols even if only I understand them. And that the story I tell in my painting does not have to be unfold, everyone can see in it what s-he wanna/needs (to) see.

I struggled A LOT with her face. Now, I know why but on the moment I was just very frustrated. This is in moments like this that I am happy I learned not to be too attached to a painting until I feel like it’s finished, so I can build over and cover up when needed.

I love filming when I paint because often, I forget my process, and I then can use my videos as a library of past processes. AND sharing it with people give me plenty of fresh eyes, allowing me to see stuff I did not.
I wish I’d know more about the editing process though, but it will come.
I wanted to do a voice over comment, and started. But when I listened to the first segments, the noise from outside were too present, added to my cold it was just not good enough. So sorry, not this time again.

Here it is (be warned, despite me speeding up, it is quite a long one):

It’s not easy to find all the material I’ve used but here is what I was able to find, hoping that helps:

If you have any question, please feel free to ask 🙂