Thursday, October 22, 2009

It's All About Me!


Hi y'all! Natasha @ Artistic Creations challenged us to create something special for ourselves...an It's All About Me! swap. I'm stepping outside the box a bit & sharing not just creations but an event. An event that I did just for me!!! I've been doing a lot for me lately...not for "Honey" (my grandparent name) not for "Chris' wife" not for "Shilah, Clifton & Dustin's mother" but for me, "Cami".

I LOVE my role as a grandmother, wife & mother but I recently discovered that I've lost my identity outside of that. That my daughter's boyfriend, (who she has dated for almost a year & who is only 10 years younger than me & whom I have been around on many, many, many occasions) didn't even know my first name...to him, I'm just "Honey". Now being "Honey" is a fantastic thing, don't get me wrong, but I like being "Cami" too. ;o) So I've been on a journey to being her again & I'd like to share a part of that w/ you.

Like I said, the past couple of months, I've really been working hard @ creating Cami & I have indulged my whimsies & desires to create. So much so, that we couldn't eat at our dining room table for 2 weeks! LOL I had a really hard time, deciding what to share for this party...I created many things in teh past few weeks. I signed up for Heather's It's a Beautiful Life journal workshop & thought I'd share the journal but no (it's not finsihed yet anyway!), I've joined an art group, taken a couple of classes, signed up for a couple more & made lots of really neat stuff (you can see some in previous posts) but the best thing I did for myself was to attend Paper Cowgirls, an art retreat held here in Texas.

I created some beautiful things & I'll share them later but that's not what it was about. It was about this...the smiles, the comraderie, the inspiration, the newly found friendships!


And this! The creating...look how intense I am about it.

I love everything I made & learned some wonderful new techniques. This is the fabric cuff I made....(it's still in it's unfinished stage here)



And my crown...oh, how I LOVE my crown! It's outrageously over the top fou-fou & it is divine!










I also "painted" this cute cupcake painting. It's actually mostly paper scraps, layered w/ paint & beeswax...fun technique!



I treasure my art that I created that day but I'll treasure the memories that I carry & the friendships that were formed, even more.

You can read more about my day @ Camp Whimsy, here in this post. I highly encourage y'all to sign up for an art retreat (they're springing up all over the country....it's not just Silver Bella anymore ;o) ) & hang out w/ people who get you....do that for yourselves!

40 comments:

  1. Hey ya GF!! Good to "see" you again!!

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  2. Gorgeous crown indeed! You know another Paper Cowgirl retreat is coming up in June! See ya Saturday ~ Angela

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  3. ~Beautiful photos Cami!

    Many Blessings and Happy Fall! ~Melissa :)

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  4. It means the world to me when I get to go on an art retreat! They are just the best. Glad yours was too.

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  5. Fabric cuffs are so fun aren't they? The crown you made is beautiful! It sounds like you had a great time creating at that retreat, and I know you will enjoy all the pretties you made for yourself :)

    Sue E.

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  6. What neat things you've created, Cami! I really enjoyed seeing them all, and I'm so glad you are enjoying this creative outlet. I probably should do something like that, too, but I feel I am hopefully uncrafty. :-(

    XO,

    Sheila

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  7. Make that "hopelessly" uncrafty. LOL! The other made NO sense... much like my day today.

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  8. Oh Cami,
    I love this post! I totally know where you were coming from with all that you said in your post. I feel the same way! I love the creations that you have created just for "You" too! You deserve it! That crown...is precious!! I want one! The art retreat sounds like such fun too and meeting people that have the same interests must have felt wonderful too!
    Big Hugs,
    Queenie

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  9. Looks like you had a lot of fun! Love the crown! Every princess should have one!

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  10. Cami, i love all the goodies you created at paper cowgirl...my favorite is your gorgeous crown...it is stunning!!!

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  11. Oh your creations are wonderful!! I am dying over that fab crown!!! And the cupcake painting is so cute!! You are super talented :)
    Hugs,
    Amy

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  12. Hi, Cami! Glad you were able to go to the art retreat! I've never been to one. Looks like you made some fun stuff! I like the cupcake best! ♥

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  13. Hi Cami,I have been so busy visiting all the ladies that joined in with Natasha. Your crown is just beautiful well done on making something for you. I really loved making my little dolly just for me! have a beautiful day Lisa

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  14. Ok, really, that is THE cutest picture of you working away! I'm super stoked that you're doing this journey down "artistic creation lane" JUST FOR YOU! Feed that soul, girl :)

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  15. I love your crown, it is gorgeous! An Art Retreat, what is more appropriate than that when taking time just for you and your creative muse.
    Karen

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  16. I love all these pieces! And it is so great that you took time for yourself to attend the Paper Cowgirls retreat!
    xo
    jeanne

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  17. Too bad that those art retreats don't exist over here. This is a great way to rediscover your own identity Cami and btw you made some fab pieces too!
    Nice to meet you! I hope you have as much fun today as I do, visiting all participants!

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  18. Love your crown! That sounds like such a fun thing to do, and how wonderful that you are making time to do things for yourself. Good advice for all of us. laurie

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  19. Hello Cami,
    Way to go!!! Yes, it's all to easy to lose your identity when you are at service to everyone but yourself....been there, done that :0)

    I fixed that though and now I know my name again..hehe

    Thanks so much for sharing your lovlies from the workshop/retreat..they are all beautiful!

    If you haven't stopped by my place..please do!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  20. An event for yourself where you make things for YOU is the perfect idea!! I love the crown!!

    Sandy xox

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  21. Crowns are one of the things I love to make and give to little girls, sugar! Yours is gorgeous though. WOW!!! Nice to meet you, sweetpea.
    xoxo,
    Connie

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  22. I love your crown too! Nice to 'meet' another Texan. We're all over the place! You are very creative, and I'm glad I found myself on your blog!

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  23. Hello Cami ~ I can relate with you about finding yourself! It is such a joy to see that you are doing just that, through creativity. Keep it up and I look forward to seeing more creations!

    Hugs ~ Nichole

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  24. So much talent all rolled into one sweet gal...
    Just loved seeing all of your pretties!
    Hope you're enjoying the
    swap as much as I am!
    ~ blessings ~
    Pearl
    Thanks for stopping by for
    a visit, and entering to
    win one of my give~aways!

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  25. I love what you said at the end of your post about hanging out with people who "get you". Yep, I think that's one of the BEST things we can do for ourselves! Your crown was gorgeous, and looked like so much fun!
    Debra

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  26. oh WOW Cami! GOod for you for going and enjoying an event and being "Cami", not just "honey"! I love what you created, the cuff and cupcake painting are fab ~ and that crown, oh my~!!!! Thanks so much for joining in and sharing your lovely story!

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  27. Your cuff, crown and cupcake painting are exquisite!! And moreover, they're gorgeous memories of a happy day!!
    Merci beaucoup for your comment on my blog!! You made my day!
    Have a terrific weekend,
    Monica.

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  28. Oh, what fun. I love the way you treated yourself. So much fun. Love all your creations. The crown is fabulous. Enjoy

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  29. Good for you!! I've never been to an art retreat but it certainly sounds like fun and you made some beautiful creations!

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  30. This is a truly unique post - making new friends through art and creativity as a gift for yourself. I love this idea!
    Fabulous work and I love the crown!
    Cheers,
    Maggie

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  31. How about your being called Cami Honey!!! I love it! It has a gooood ring to it and makes a statement. "I'm fun, I'm me, & I'm lovin' it!!" Just introduce yourself as Cami Honey from now on and you will begin to believe it/so will everyone else!
    I would love to do a retreat sometime. I have forgotten how to laugh and just be a girl. Keep on keepin' on! You sounded like you had a ball and it just made me laugh out loud. I want a crown just like yours!!!!
    Abundant-Blessings to you,
    Sharon
    p.s. thank you so much for your sweet comment on my last post. It means so much to know someone "hears" us.

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  32. Hi Cami!!! Good for you re-finding yourself, so easy for us women to loose ourselves to the many roles we have. Your creations are wonderful, I adore the crown! Happy travels on your rediscovery/creating journey!!! Rachael:)

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  33. Cami, what a wonderful post! Everything you created is divine! That crown is something else! I love your cupcake painting . . . it's so fun and makes me happy just looking at it! LOL!!

    Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog and leaving your kind comments!

    Happy Creating, Cami!

    Blessings,
    Teresa

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  34. Cami, looks as though IT'S ALL ABOUT ME has really taken hold of ya!
    Congrats ! ! !!

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  35. Ever notice that recreate (as in having fun) is also re-create?

    You are totally awesome to me, my friend.

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  36. Paper Cowgirl looks like so much fun & such an amazing opportunity to meet up with other like minded ladies. I love your crown.

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  37. I wish we had art workshops like that where I live! It's the perfect thing to do for yourself. Your crown is gorgeous, and the other projects are great!

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  38. AMEN SISTER!!!! Love all your goodies from Paper Cowgirls. I would like to go to that sometime. Your crown is divine. Where did you put it? My favorite part of this post though was about your goal to "find Cami" & do things for her. Something so many of forget to do while we take care of the others in our life. So glad to have found you. It's funny how you & I had just started blogging with each other before we met the first time. FATE? Blessed I think! Have ag reat week.

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  39. Love this post, it has taken me ages to get to read everyones blogs. Like you I had lost the 'me' I used to be. We get too busy doing things for everyone else and never ourselves.
    Great to hear you are having some 'me' time
    Alison

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